Pregnant teen suffers frightening hit-and-run; gives birth to new daughter

Heven Rooks was 8 months pregnant when she was hit by the driver of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade while she was driving south on the 200 block of South Briggs Avenue in Durham.

A doorbell video captured an emotional and frightening moment where Rooks pleads for help – as the driver speeds away in the background.

The impact of the accident forced doctors to perform an emergency delivery on Saturday night.

On Monday, Rooks was still at Duke recovering with a few complications.

“All praises to God. She’s doing very well," said John Rooks, her father. "My wife called me a little hysterical as you can imagine. She told me [my daughter] might be going to Duke Hospital, and I just kind of broke every law possible to get to the hospital."

Rooks couldn’t even process the thought of losing his daughter and future granddaughter.

There was a terrifying moment when the baby wasn't breathing, and didn't have a heartbeat, according to John Rooks.

"They were able to save the baby, but then my daughter continued to bleed for quite some time," he said.

Doctors delivered the baby, and WRAL News is told both mother and child are doing fine.

Police are now looking for the driver of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade who was speeding, hit Rooks head-on, then fled the scene. That driver later struck two power poles on Driver Street before abandoning the car on East Peabody Street.

"Just come forward and we’ll deal with the consequences," said John Rooks. "I’m just thankful that we’re not having a different conversation."

He says he's blessed to be able to see his daughter successfully pulling through it all – and he says he can’t wait to be able to hold his granddaughter Za’riyah Rooks in his arms.