15 years for truck death
A MAN WHO STOLE a flatbed truck and crushed the owner under its wheels was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years to life in prison.
Business owner Phil Dellegrazie was killed April 4, 2016, after he chased the thief down and climbed on the side of the truck, where the driver pushed him back into the street and ran him over.
Six hours earlier, Dellegrazie, 63, who owned an ironworks company in Greenwood, had been at a family wedding.
“My family is destroyed,” cried Dellegrazie’s daughter Marie (photo) said as she read an impact statement before Joshua Colon, who pleaded guilty to a murder charge, was sentenced.
“My mother lost her only true love of 38 years. The house is quiet. There’s an empty seat at the table. Holidays aren’t the same.”
Colon admitted that he was responsible for Dellegrazie’s death, but said he never meant to hurt the man.
Dellegrazie died on the scene from injuries to his head and neck. “I’m not the monster you think I am and I know sorry won’t make your family whole again, but I hope you can forgive me,” Colon read from a letter he wrote.
“This kid will never learn his lesson, he should never be free or be able to enjoy life. They should throw away the key to his cell,” wrote Phil Dellegrazie’s son Angelo Dellegrazie in a letter his sister read in court.
Colon had more than 30 prior arrests before stealing the truck.
He faced 25 years to life in prison at triial.
Angelo is now running his late father’s business A&D Ironworks. The family is working on getting a street named after him. PAT DINIZIO, who as lead singer and songwriter for the New Jersey band The Smithereens blended pop, rock and new wave music, died Tuesday of undisclosed causes, according to the band’s Facebook page. He was 62. DiNizio posted several days ago that he was hopeful of getting back on tour as he continued physical therapy for neck and back injuries at the Victorian farmhouse he was restoring in Scotch Plains.
The Smithereens peaked in the late 1980s-early 1990s, but continued to tour and record. Their more recent albums included “2011” and “The Smithereens Play Tommy,” a tribute to The Who’s rock opera.
“Pat had the magic touch. He channeled the essence of joy and heartbreak into hook-laden three minute pop songs, infused with a lifelong passion for rock & roll,” surviving band members said in their Facebook statement.
“Our journey with Pat was long, storied and a hell of a lot of fun. We grew up together. Little did we know that we wouldn’t grow old together.”
DiNizio helped form The Smithereens in 1980 after placing an ad looking for a drummer to help him on a demo tape.
Their breakthrough came in 1986 when their “Blood and Roses” was featured in the movie “Dangerously Close” and the song’s video was aired on MTV.