Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 4, 1993 TAG: 9306040231
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRIDGEWATER LENGTH: Medium
Bridgewater Police Chief Mark Payne said that when he spotted Prospero Saccani driving erratically on May 20, he thought the man was having a heart attack.
Payne approached the car and found instead that Saccani and his wife of 65 years, Leona, were dazed and disoriented after being in their car for about 12 hours.
The chief said the Saccanis, who were en route to Pittsburgh from their home in Charleroi, Pa., were unaware they were in Virginia and had not eaten and were several hours overdue for taking prescribed medication.
He drove the couple to Rockingham Memorial Hospital, where they were given checkups, hot food and medication to replace the prescriptions they had left at home.
After the Saccanis received a clean bill of health, Payne checked them into the Village Inn Hotel, briefed them on dialing the 911 emergency number and gave them his home phone number.
The next day, his day off, Payne enlisted the aid of a friend to help drive the Saccanis home. Payne said he did not want to risk putting the couple on a plane for fear they would become confused if they had to change planes.
Within four hours, the Saccanis were greeted at their doorstep by several relatives, who had plenty of hugs for Payne.
Payne said the problem began when the couple, mistaking a 2:15 p.m. doctor's appointment for 2:15 a.m., left in the wee hours of the morning so they would be on time. When they discovered their mistake, they decided to drive around the area to kill time, but they got lost and wound up in Virginia.
Payne said he plans to stay in touch with the Saccanis.
"We are not all out here in our blue uniforms just writing tickets," Payne said.
by CNB