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Baby delivered after mother struck and killed by van

The father of a baby delivered after his mother was mortally injured by a minivan said it "doesn't make sense" that the 88-year-old driver was behind the wheel

By Frances Burns

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The father of a baby delivered after his mother was hit by a minivan in Pittsburgh said the 88-year-old who struck her should not have been driving.

Allen Massie, the driver, had not been charged with anything Friday morning, police in Pittsburgh said. But relatives reportedly said Massie has been showing some symptoms of dementia.

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Jodie Guthrie was hit by Massie's van outside a RiteAid pharmacy Wednesday and died soon after giving birth. George Weatherwalk, her fiancé, said Guthrie, whose baby was scheduled to arrive in two weeks, often felt uncomfortable as her pregnancy drew to a close and was probably squatting in an effort to relieve pressure.

Police said Massie, who was trying to get into a parking spot, may have hit the accelerator by mistake. Commander Rashall Brackney said Massie seemed "disoriented."

Candy Thompson, a granddaughter, told KDKA-TV that Massie might not remember the next day that he had killed someone.

Weatherwalk said he could not understand why Massie was allowed to drive.

"I don't understand. That doesn't make sense to me," Weatherwalk said. "I mean, she'd still be here right now."

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Their son, Trace Joseph, was delivered at UPMC Children's Hospital by emergency Caesarean section. Weatherwalk said the baby is on a respirator and doctors have not determined if he suffered brain damage during the time when he was deprived of oxygen.

The couple chose the name during Guthrie's pregnancy.

"This wasn't supposed to be this way," Weatherwalk told WTAE-TV Thursday. "He wasn't supposed to be born like this. We were supposed to be happy."

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