Mascarenhas family who gave birth to their child this morning alongside the 401. A picture is also included of mom, Michele Tyndall, newborn Violet and father, Adam Mascarenchas. (Supplied photo)

TORONTO - A police officer helped a woman give birth to a baby girl at the side of the road in Brampton, Ont., early Thursday, while the temperature, with the wind chill, was -18 C.

For Sgt. Ryan Snow, it was the first emergency call of its kind he'd ever received.

It came across his police radio at 3:30 Thursday morning: A woman was in labour and about to give birth at the side of Hwy. 401, just east of Hwy. 25.

Being close to the scene, Snow, a 15-year police veteran, responded.