SAN FRANCISCO—Not bothering to wait for a trip to the hospital, Frank Edward Mendez Jr. came into the world at 4:02 a.m. while traveling along U.S. Highway 101.

Minutes before, firefighters were dispatched to a South San Francisco home to transport the in-labor Alexis Mendez to the hospital.

It became clear that baby Frank had no intentions of waiting, firefighter and paramedic Jessie Lange delivered him while traveling in the ambulance on U.S. Highway 101, near the Interstate 380 interchange.

Though the newborn initially had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, Lange was able to unwind the cord and give baby Frank resuscitative care.

Per South San Francisco law, all firefighters are required to be trained as a paramedic, a requirement that came in handy when the youngster chose to make an early entry to the world.

To commemorate Wednesday morning’s heroics, a reunion between Lange and the seven-pound, one-ounce newborn is planned for next week.