Lottie Holmes was born at 7:35 p.m. March 21 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Submitted Photo

A baby girl was born along the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Beaver Valley and Cranberry Township interchanges last month, and she was delivered with the help of an equipment operator who arrived before the ambulance.

Lottie Holmes came into the world March 21 at a pull-off area near mile marker 18.1 to parents Nick and Sarah Holmes of New Castle, with operator Bob Demko standing by, according to a news release.

Officials said Demko was washing his truck at a maintenance facility nearby when a call about Lottie’s arrival came over the radio.

“I was the first one there, and I got to see a lot of stuff I never in my life thought I’d see,” Demko said. “I don’t have kids, and I told my wife later that I always wanted to witness this, and never thought I would.”

When he arrived on scene, Nick was on the phone with 911.

“I asked them, ‘What do you need?’ And he said, ‘She’s doing all the work,’” Demko said.

As a former volunteer firefighter, Nick felt prepared for the situation.

“I just jumped into action,” he said. “It’s one of those things that’s hard to explain unless you’re in that position. You think you’d be a nervous wreck, but you know what the end game has to be, and there were no other options at that point.”

Demko handed over blankets and towels to the Holmes to aid them, and with the help of a state trooper who soon arrived, Lottie was born at 7:35 p.m.

Officials said Lottie spent nearly two days in the Allegheny Health Network Wexford Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit before she was released to go home to New Castle. The news release indicated she is doing well, living with her parents and her big brother, Jace, who is 2.

As an 18-year employee of the Turnpike, Demko considered it a remarkable day.

“It was really nice to see something positive happen out there — a new life,” Demko said. “I’m just very happy I could be part of it.”