Squabble Over Shared Driveway Ends With Old Man’s Beating, Younger Guy’s Arrest: Cops

JOLIET, IL — An ongoing squabble over a shared driveway hit rock bottom when an old man suffered a beating as he was unloading groceries from his pickup truck, police said.

The 72-year-old pulled into his Hobbs Avenue home about 6:15 p.m. Monday and was getting groceries out of the bed of his pickup when a car pulled in behind his vehicle.

The driver of that car — 24-year-old Eric Martinez — got out and punched the older man in the left eye, police said. The older man reportedly had a garden hose and whipped Martinez in the hand with it.

The older man fell down and Martinez punched him some more in the face and head, police said. The older man’s son, a 34-year-old who was inside their house, then heard the commotion and came outside.

About this time, a man identified only as Martinez’s brother rolled up on a bicycle, police said. He and Martinez allegedly proceeded to attack the older man’s son, punching him as well.

Martinez took off in his car and his brother pedaled away on his bicycle, police said. Martinez was arrested after he went to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox to have his injured hand tended to and staff there called the cops.

The man identified as Martinez’s brother remains at large.

The neighbors have had a problem about the driveway between their homes for some time now, police said.

Martinez does not even reside in the house that shares a driveway with the older man’s home, police said, as he lives on Second Avenue.