MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Local 10 News morning co-anchor Jacey Birch, who is nine months' pregnant, was injured in a crash Tuesday morning in Miami Shores, and the driver who crashed into her is behind bars.
Birch was driving to work early Tuesday when she was struck by another vehicle that ran a red light at Northwest 103rd Street. She was taken to a hospital to be treated for her injuries.
Miami Shores police said Ralph Brutus was the driver of the Nissan Rogue that struck Birch. He was taken to North Shore Medical Center for a sprained neck and then was arrested on an outstanding warrant for marijuana possession.
Birch's husband, Local 10 News meteorologist Trent Aric, was sleeping at home when he got a knock on the door from police.
"My heart sank," Aric said. "We've all seen TV shows and movies. They only knock on your door for one reason, and I thought he was going to tell me that I lost my wife and child."
Birch suffered a broken foot and a concussion, but her immediate concern was for her unborn baby.
"Two feet in the other direction, I wouldn't have survived that crash, and my child wouldn't have survived that crash," Birch said.
Aric said their baby boy, Jupiter, is doing OK. He said an ultrasound revealed a strong heartbeat. It was a sigh of relief for a couple expecting their first child in two weeks.
"It registers, maybe I wouldn't even be here today if it happened any other way," Birch said. "Or maybe my baby wouldn't be here or Trent wouldn't have either one of us."
Brutus hasn't been cited for the crash, which remains under investigation.
Birch remained in the hospital overnight for observation. She was released on Wednesday and is resting at home.