Chapel Hill Fire Captain David Sasser has attended several unexpected births in his eighteen years as a firefighter, but he never thought one of those would be his own daughter.

“Right on South Columbia Street between Carolina Inn and Sitterson Hall, Kayleigh Ruth Sasser was born into the world,” says Sasser.

Sasser’s wife Vanessa went into labor Monday night, so the couple began the 45 minute drive from their home near Sanford to the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill. They almost made it.

“We were about five stoplights from the Birthing Center and labor had progressed to about a minute and a half [between] contractions and she just felt like she had to push.”

Although Vanessa gave birth in the truck, her water never broke, meaning the baby was still encased in the amniotic sac. Luckily, Sasser knew just what to do.

“I immediately pulled over and went from excitement and nervousness and fear into work mode,” say Sasser. “Somehow in one fell swoop I parked the truck on the side of the road on the sidewalk, broke the bag of waters, and called 911.”

Fire and medical personnel responded to the scene, including the fire truck Sasser usually rides on. Mother and baby were transported to UNC Women’s Hospital for observation, but Sasser says everyone is doing fine.

While he was there to help after the birth, Sasser says full credit goes to Vanessa, who delivered the baby herself while the pick-up truck was in motion.

“I always thought that childbirth is a natural thing and women have been doing it for thousands of years. My wife proudly showed me that.”

Related Stories
‹
Fire in Townhome Displaces 4 Chapel Hill Residents; No Injuries Reported
A fire at a townhome building in Chapel Hill sent firefighters rushing to the blaze and left four residents displaced on Thursday evening.
Crash and Vehicle Fire Briefly Close E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill; 2 Injured
A crash in a residential area of East Franklin Street briefly closed the road and led to a vehicle fire, according to the Town of Chapel Hill.
House Fire In Chapel Hill Draws Response From Multiple Fire Departments
The Chapel Hill Fire Department was one of multiple departments and emergency response groups that responded to a house fire Thursday afternoon.
Chatham County 911 Operator Helps a Woman Give Birth at Home
After entering labor, Chatham County's Sarah Gianni called 911 and was helped by operator Lorie Teague. Now they've met for the first time.
Chapel Hill Transit to Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Upcoming Events
August 1 marked 50 years of Chapel Hill Transit, and the town is planning to celebrate with community events.
Chapel Hill Fire: S. Graham Street Reopened After Brief Gas Leak
A gas leak has shut down South Graham Street in Chapel Hill between the intersections with West Franklin and West Cameron Streets. The Chapel Hill Fire Department first reported the leak at 10:46 a.m. on Friday morning, and a spokesperson for Dominion Energy – the gas supplier for the region – confirmed it shortly after. […]
Chapel Hill: 1 Found Dead in House Fire Along Rogerson Drive
The Chapel Hill Fire Department is investigating a fatal house fire that took place in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Local Service Award Winners Honored at UNC Men's Basketball Game
The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro honored its 2023 Service Award winners before the UNC men’s basketball team’s game at the Smith Center on Wednesday night. Eleven winners in total were recognized for their outstanding work. The winners were joined on court by several other members of the service community, including Carrboro mayor Barbara […]
Chapel Hill Fire: Gas Leak Closes Homestead Road on Monday
The Chapel Hill Fire Department responded to a gas leak along Homestead Road Monday morning, which closed the popular road. The department alerted the community to the leak shortly after 10 a.m., saying Homestead Road was closed between Weaver Dairy Road Extension and Seawell School Road. Dominion Energy, which is the gas supplier to the […]
UNC: Repairs on Marsico Hall Continuing Ahead of New Academic Year
After a fire broke out in a research lab months ago, UNC is still performing repairs within an academic and lab building. A university spokesperson confirmed to Chapelboro that Marsico Hall, which is located along Mason Farm Road and is near to the UNC Hospitals campus, is continuing to undergo restoration efforts following a brief […]
›