"There was such a sense of relief," she said.
It was that experience in January which compelled her and husband Sam to share their story to support the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust.
The Guests yesterday related their experience to the Otago Regional Council, major sponsor of the trust, telling councillors of their "nightmare" accident that left Mrs Guest with a broken foot and ribs, as well as pelvic bruising.
"We knew we were going to be safe in the helicopter. The baby started to move, which was a huge relief, but I started to have contractions," she said.
Mr Guest could still hear the impact of the crash and see parts of the two cars strewn across the road.
"We didn't know what was going on. She couldn't feel the baby or her legs. It was awful, the worst possible situation you could imagine, and we were in the middle of nowhere."
Mr Guest said the paramedics, intensive-care specialist and pilot were very relaxed, which calmed them, as did the knowledge they were being treated and assessed on the way to hospital.
The couple, who now have a healthy son Duncan, born two weeks after his due date, were one of the 476 patients transferred to Dunedin Hospital by the rescue helicopter service in the year to March 2011.
Trust chairman Ross Black, presenting the trust's annual report, said the trust flew 812 hours, a 28% increase on the 634 hours the year before.
"We've had a dramatic increase in emergency missions."
The rise was causing some "growing pains", and meant more often using the second and third helicopters from Helicopters Otago as back-up, with more pilots and paramedics.
"It has boosted our income with a significant surplus but it's a honeymoon year."
Any drop in demand would mean a drop in income.
The $300,000 surplus meant the trust could put $84,000 into rescue equipment and another full-time pilot. The rest would go into the operational budget, Mr Black said.
The trust also received $100,000 more in donations compared with the previous year, to a total $568,000.
The total of 30 police search and rescue missions for the year to March was seven fewer than in the previous year.
Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said the council was proud of its annual $250,000 contribution to the trust, confirmed in its recent annual plan.
• Peter Hoang died in the Lindis Crossing accident and Australian student William Tong (23) was convicted in the Dunedin District Court on January 28 of driving carelessly causing the death of Mr Hoang and injuring Mrs Guest.
