Toronto baby born in backseat of taxi en route to hospital
A Toronto taxi driver’s cab became a makeshift delivery room on Friday.
Vernon Warnor was five minutes into his shift when he received his first call of the day. It was just past 6 a.m. and the city was cloaked in a light blanket of flurries.
“All I had was an address for pickup but I didn't have the destination where I was going to drop off,” Warnor said. When he saw a mother and daughter with a suitcase in hand, he assumed they were heading to the airport.
“But when I got closer I realized she was pregnant,” he said.
Warnor hoisted a car seat into his taxi, buckled up the girl of about four years old and then returned to help her mother.
“At that point in time, a red flag was up because I also needed to help the mom in the car because she was in pain,” he said.
The customer directed him to a hospital downtown. From their current location in Scarborough, Warnor’s GPS estimated a 38-minute drive.
“About five minutes into the drive, she told me that her water had broken. At that time, I’m thinking that the destination might be too long,” Warnor said.
They were already on Highway 401 when he pivoted their route and took the next exit. At first, he aimed for the closest hospital, Scarborough General, but the baby had other plans.
“The baby started to make its way,” Warnor said. “I decided to abandon Scarborough General, so I pulled into a gas station and I called 911.”
Once parked, he jumped into the backseat and grabbed a towel and blanket. He stayed on the phone with emergency personnel and called his dispatcher while the mother delivered her own baby.
“By the time the emergency vehicle showed up, the baby was born.”
Beck Taxi said in a social media post on Friday that the mother and baby are doing well and that the company has plans in store to thank Warnor for his heroic actions.
“My top priority was to make sure the mother and child were safe. I feel like I was at the right place at the right time. If it occurred tomorrow morning, I would be willing to jump into action just the same.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.