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A baby was born during a police chase as her parents rushed to hospital in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Carl Alewine, 27, from South Carolina, was tailed by police as he sped to Charleston hospital when his partner Tiffani Von Glahn went into labour three weeks early.

Before the couple could reach their destination, they were stopped by police and Ms Von Glahn gave birth to baby Anastasia on the interstate at 1am.

The baby’s father told the Standard: "When the one cop hit his lights behind us, I thought, 'I could stop, but my wife is screaming that the baby is almost here.'

The couple explained that they were driving at almost 90 miles per hour as they had been told there was a chance of complications with the delivery and worried they would not make it to hospital on time.

Mr Alewine said: "Our doctors told us that she would not be able to have a natural birth because of her size and weight, and how our daughter was positioned. So I just kept going".

Ms Vohn Glahn told US channel News 2: “I look back and there’s like 20 police cars, and they had the exits blocked off and everything. Eventually it got to where they had to box us in to stop us.”

When officers stopped the car, they handcuffed Mr Alewine.

“They ended up putting him in handcuffs, just for safety reasons, because they were saying there are people out there that will fake having a pregnant wife,” said Ms Vohn Glahn.

She explained how she could not wait any longer to give birth and how with the help of the police officers and a passing firefighter baby Anastasia was born.

The baby’s father said: “I’m sitting there, watching her born on the hood of the car, fireworks going off in the background because it’s New Year’s, and then they let me out of handcuffs, and the cops started clapping and congratulating us.”

He said: "The arresting officer walked up to me, took the cuffs off, and said 'it's a girl. Go see your wife and kid, man.'"

The proud parents praised the police and said that they handled the situation flawlessly.

Mr Alewine said: “Once they realised what was happening, a firefighter, who happened to be riding along with his son for New Years, rushed into action and delivered her.”

Anastasia was born weighing 6 pounds and 2 ounces.