Man, pregnant wife get escort to hospital, ticket

[January 06, 2011]  LONDONDERRY, N.H. (AP) -- A New Hampshire man rushing to get his pregnant wife to the hospital says he was given a state police escort, and then a speeding ticket.

John Coughlin says he'll fight the ticket, but the state police say it was deserved.

Coughlin hit a speed of 102 mph on Sept. 18 as he rushed to a Manchester hospital with his wife.

When a trooper tried to stop them, the Coughlins called 911 and said the baby was coming. The trooper then turned the pursuit into a hospital escort.

WMUR-TV says baby Kyle was born six minutes after they reached the hospital.

The trooper congratulated Coughlin on the birth of his son and then handed him a ticket.

State Police Major Russell Conte says the trooper did the right thing, contending Coughlin put his wife, unborn child, himself and the public at risk.

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Information from: WMUR-TV, http://wmur.com/

[Associated Press]

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