A Massachusetts man said his daughter was born in the front seat of his family's van when he and his wife were unable to make it to the hospital in time.

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Mark Nardelli, principal of Horace Mann Elementary School in Newtonville, said he and wife Christine Dardia, a teacher at Sheehan Elementary in Westwood, were awakened at about 1 a.m. Wednesday when her water broke, The Boston Globe reported Thursday.

Nardelli said a 911 operator told them to pull over in the breakdown lane on Route 128 in Dedham to wait for emergency responders, but baby Alora Grace was born in the front seat of the Honda Odyssey before police arrived. "I cleared the airway. It was amazing. I felt like I was part of something special," Nardelli said.

"My wife did all the work. She was really a trouper. A calm came over us once we realized no one was going to help. We didn't talk much. We just focused."

Mother and newborn Alora -- who weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces -- were taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.