Cain Hutcherson, 8-pounds, 2-ounces, was delivered in the passenger side of his parents car by base Police Officers Rafael Moreno and Marcos Nieves at 8:14 p.m., Oct. 26.

The event began when new mother, Lance Cpl. Alicia Oneil’s water broke and intense labor pains started. She and her fiancé, William Hutcherson, decided to drive to Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital from Escondido, Calif.

“Once we arrived at the gate, a car was holding us up, so I yelled to the guards that I had a woman in labor,” said Hutcherson.

The guards told the couple to stay at the gate while they called for the paramedics to transport them to the hospital, as it would be faster and safer, said Cpl. Christopher Zahrndt, military policeman, Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

“We were on our way back to the station when we heard the call over the radio,” said Moreno, a certified Emergency Medical Technician. “Hearing that the labor pains were one minute apart, I knew the baby was very close to delivery. Based on my experience, both as an EMT and a parent, I decided to go to the gate to help,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zahrndt kept traffic moving, ensuring the area remained clear, in anticipation of the arrival of medical personnel.

At the advice of EMTs via radio communication, Police Officers Humberto Martinez and Jim Labrador made Oneil as comfortable as possible by removing the baby car seat from the back and reclining the front passenger seat as far back as it would go.

Moreno and Nieves arrived before the paramedics and obtained permission, from the mother-to-be, to conduct an examination in order to determine the progress of her labor.

“At first everything looked fine,” said Moreno. “But, all of a sudden, I noticed the mother was crowning. I know that meant the baby was ready to come out,” he explained.

The group grabbed whatever items they could to prepare for the birth.

“All we had was a robe, a sweatshirt and a jacket,” said Nieves.

With an MP on the hood of the vehicle, shining a flashlight through the windshield, Hutcherson and Nieves coached Oneil, and after just three pushes, Moreno caught the baby as he arrived.

“After a few seconds, I saw the baby’s eyes open up, and he started to cry,” said Nieves. “I told the mom: ‘it’s a boy.’ Then we wrapped it up best we could and handed him to the mother,” he said.

Approximately five minutes later, the ambulance arrived and took the new family to the hospital.

“This was a crazy situation,” said Zahrndt. “Definitely not something we normally train for.”

Oneil and her new baby spent two days in the hospital for observation and have been released with a clean bill of health.