Newborn Reva McDade sleeps Wednesday as her mother Kayla McDade and grandmother Anita McDade look on at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh. Reva arrived a little early Tuesday, being born in a van along Interstate 79 near Cranberry Township.

PITTSBURGH — Reva McDade is a speedy 1-day old, so speedy in fact, she insisted on being born Tuesday on Interstate 79.

Reva's mother, Kayla McDade, 24, of Butler sat on her bed Wednesday in Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh, recalling her daughter's quick entrance into the world, two weeks early.

“I was at a friend's house in Butler and started feeling contractions at about 9:30 a.m.,” she said. “They were coming about five minutes apart and they weren't stopping.”

Kayla also has a 1-year-old son, so she's been through the birth process before, but it was nothing like Reva's.

Kayla called her mother, Anita McDade also of Butler, and told her it was time to go to Magee, where Kayla's doctor was expecting them.

“By the time we got just past Cranberry Township, I'm thinking that we're not going to make it to the hospital, so I'm on the phone with 911 trying to tell them where we are, but I have no idea because I'm laying down in the back seat,” she said.

Passing the phone to her mother, Kayla told her she had to push, so Anita pulled off the road just before the I-79-279 split.

“As soon as we stopped, mom came back to open the van door and the state police were there with an ambulance right behind them,” Kayla said.

Troopers Edward Joyner and Thomas Plunkard, assigned to the Troop B Barracks in Moon Township, arrived just in time to help with Reva's delivery — the first for both of them.

“They were so calm,” Anita said. “Maybe they were in shock, or maybe that's just how they are, but they were very nice.”

After the birth, Kayla and Reva were transferred to the waiting ambulance and taken to Magee.

The baby arrived at 11:23 a.m., weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and measuring 19 inches long.

“When we got here, she had to be put under a warming lamp for a little bit because she was cold., But other than that, she's perfect,” Kayla said.

And for “Guiding Light” soap opera fans, Kayla confirmed that the baby is named for Reva Shane, a long suffering character on the television show that was a Pittsburgh fan favorite through the years.

“I just hope she doesn't have as many problems with men as Reva did,” Kayla said.