Somerset County family welcomes baby born in van on the way to hospital
On Sept. 9, around 11:30 p.m., LeeAnn and Jordan Hriniak were on their way to St. Peter’s University Hospital when their son decided he couldn’t wait.
A Hillsborough family will never look at their van the same way again.
On Sept. 9, around 11:30 p.m., LeeAnn and Jordan Hriniak were on their way to St. Peter’s University Hospital when their son decided he couldn’t wait.
Just minutes from home, on Amwell Road in Franklin Township, baby Jacob made his surprise arrival in the passenger seat of the family’s new Kia Sedona.
“We hadn’t packed because our first son was really late, so we were not ready to have a baby early,” LeeAnn said. But after just a few contractions, she knew: “This baby’s coming out.”
She shifted into position and, relying on the preparation she’d done for a natural birth, delivered Jacob herself. Her husband Jordan kept his focus on the road, with their 3-year-old son, Jordan Jr. and the family dog riding in the back.
“It was an unreal experience,” Jordan said. “In the moment, I was focused on her, making sure she was all right. Especially with the kid and the dog in the back seat.”
Even in the chaos, the couple says calm carried them through.
Their 3-year-old reminded his mom, “Just take a deep breath,” a moment both parents believe may be his first lasting memory.
By the time the family reached the hospital, Jacob was already safe in his mother’s arms. His official birthplace: the corner of Amwell Road and Van Cleef in Franklin Township.
