Police: Hit-and-run driver charged with murder for intentionally striking pedestrian

A Newark man intentionally swerved his car onto the shoulder of Salem Church Road and fatally struck a pedestrian after mistaking him for someone else, police alleged.

The driver, 35-year-old Joshua Tenaglia, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death and failure to report a collision resulting in death. He remains in jail after failing to post $1 million cash bond.

The crash happened just before 4:15 p.m. July 5 on Salem Church Road, north of Michaels Lane, according to Delaware State Police.

Michael Daloise, 57, of Newark, was walking north in the right shoulder when a northbound vehicle struck him and then fled from the scene.

Daloise was taken to Christiana Hospital, where he died.

Detectives later identified the striking vehicle as a white Mazda 3 and its driver as Tenaglia. They determined that before the crash, Tenaglia was involved in an argument and threatened a man in a business in Salem Village Square Shopping Center.

The man Tenaglia argued with was dressed similarly to D’Aloise, and police allege that Tenaglia deliberately ran over D’Aloise thinking he was the man he was arguing with.