'It Hasn't Sunk In Yet,' Says Father of Naperville Woman Killed Crossing Road

Caption: Emily Driscoll, 22, of Naperville, with her friends and beloved Greyhound, Quincy, from the young woman’s Facebook page. The dog also died of injuries as a result of Sunday’s accident.

Hearts are aching for Emily Driscoll, a young woman who was beautiful, smart, funny and looking forward to a career as a surgical nurse.

The 22-year-old Naperville woman was walking her dog Sunday evening when she was hit by a car and killed crossing the intersection of Book Street and Rickert Road.

The young woman’s beloved dog, a Greyhound rescue named Quincy, died with her.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Timothy Driscoll said of his daughter. “Not at all, I have a lot crying jags.”

• Follow Naperville Patch on Facebook

Emily worked full time while attending nursing school at Aurora University before transferring to the College of DuPage’s surgical nursing program. She had completed her education this past summer.

“She received an excellent evaluation,” Driscoll said. “She was in line for a possible job at Central DuPage or Edward Hospital.”

He said his daughter was delayed coming home from work Sunday evening at Sky High Sports at 2244 Corporate Lane in Naperville.

“She had to attend to everything, including clogged toilets,” Driscoll said. “She was a manager so she had to take care of these things.”

Emily grabbed Quincy to take him for a walk. She and the dog were crossing northbound on Book Street when they were struck by a 74-year-old Plainfield man driving a Chevy Malibu eastbound on Rickett Road around 8:15 p.m., police said.

Naperville Fire Department paramedics responding to the accident scene “abandoned the truck,” meaning all five paramedics went with Emily to try to save her life en route to Edward Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Meanwhile, Naperville police were knocking on the Driscolls’ door, bearing news that is every parent’s worst nightmare.

When Emily’s parents arrived at the house, 15 of her friends and coworkers were already there, her father said.

“She was well-liked,” Driscoll said. “She was very witty.”

Emily was a graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School, where she played in the school orchestra. Her father described his daughter as a talented young woman who begged her parents for years to get a dog. Finally, an opportunity came along to adopt a retired racing Greyhound.

“Quincy was a rescue dog,” Driscoll said. “He lived here but she took full ownership of him. He had a pretty good racing record. He was very gentle, very docile. He slept 18 hours a day.”

Driscoll said he and his family are still reeling from their loss. The young woman’s boyfriend, whom she had known since high school, is devastated.

“They’re doing fair,” Driscoll said of Emily’s mother, Gloria, and sister, Colleen.

Emily’s Facebook page show a young woman full of life, with happy pictures of her boyfriend, friends, family and dog, captioned with wickedly funny commentary.

The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been made against the driver, Sgt. Bill Davis said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call the Naperville Police Department at 630-305-5379.

Funeral arrangements for Emily Driscoll are pending.

» Sign up for your FREE Naperville Patch newsletter