Chilean toll booth dispute and roadside childbirth

On August 27, a woman in active labor gave birth inside a vehicle on the Ruta Interportuaria in Chile’s Biobío Region after being delayed at a toll booth. The family, traveling from Penco to Hospital Las Higueras in Talcahuano, reportedly faced a 10 to 15-minute delay because they lacked the 2,500 Chilean pesos in cash required for the toll.

The father, Dylan Nova, stated that the toll worker refused to lift the barrier despite the medical emergency, even when he offered to repay the fee later. The family eventually secured the cash from another motorist, but the baby, Julieta Isidora, was born prematurely at 35 weeks shortly after they passed the booth. The infant and mother were reported to be in stable condition.

Camila Godoy, the mother, criticized the concessionaire for a lack of empathy during the crisis, claiming the delay put her and her daughter’s lives in danger. The incident has sparked political backlash, with Deputy Coca Ñanco requesting an inquiry from the Ministry of Public Works regarding the concessionaire’s emergency protocols. The highway concessionaire has issued a public apology and announced an internal investigation into whether established emergency procedures were followed.