Speeding dad ticketed with wife in labor

MANCHESTER, N.H., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- New Hampshire State Police said they will not back off a speeding ticket given to a man who was rushing his wife to the hospital while she was in labor.

Police Maj. Russell Conte said John Coughlin was spotted by a trooper driving at more than 100 mph on a 55 mph road at 3:30 a.m. Sept. 18, WMUR-TV, Manchester, N.H., reported Wednesday.

The trooper attempted to pull Coughlin over and the motorist called 911 to explain he was rushing his wife, Angela, to a Manchester hospital because she was in labor, Conte said. The trooper was informed of the situation by dispatchers and escorted the couple to the hospital, where he used his discretion in issuing the ticket.

"By his own action, he put himself, his wife, the life of his unborn child and the motoring public in a very dangerous situation," Conte said.

However, Coughlin has vowed to fight the ticket in court.

"There's no lesson to be learned here," he said. "You're still going to go fast in an emergency situation. You're still going to do what needs to be done."