Elderly Naperville Couple Hit By Jeep

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (STMW) -- An 88-year-old west suburban man and his 84-year-old wife suffered minor injuries Friday night, after they were struck and knocked down by a Jeep while walking on the Naperville campus of North Central College.

Paul and Rosemary Persiani were taken by ambulance to Edward Hospital in Naperville. A nursing supervisor early Saturday said both had been released after undergoing treatment in the emergency room.

The Persianis reportedly live on Naperville's east side. They were injured about 7:25 p.m. Friday outside the Wentz Concert Hall, at 171 E. Chicago Ave. just east of downtown.

Police Cmdr. Dave Hoffman said the couple was walking east and side by side on the sidewalk when they were hit by a blue, 2005 Jeep Liberty emerging from a private driveway perpendicular to the walk.

The Jeep was driven by Donna R. Martens, who was alone at the time, Hoffman said. The Jeep was moving "at a slow rate of speed," but the impact knocked the Persianis down to the sidewalk, Hoffman said.

Martens, 50, lives on the 2700 block of Glenwood Court, in the Woodlake area of Naperville's far southwest side. She was unhurt in the crash.

Police ticketed Martens for failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk, Hoffman said.

Paul Persiani will be 89 on Sunday. Rosemary Persiani, who turned 84 last week, in the late 1990s and early 2000s was an award-winning tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America/DuPage.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)