Authorities in Coventry are investigating a tragic late-night crash that left a 50-year-old man dead after his vehicle slammed into a home on Tuesday. Police identified the driver as Derek Decosta of Pawtucket. The shocking incident unfolded during a police response to an unrelated disturbance and quickly escalated into a dangerous situation that ended in a fatal crash.
According to the Coventry Police Department, officers were first dispatched to Anthony Street following reports of a disturbance in the neighborhood. While officers were responding to that call, a separate 911 report came in claiming that three people had been forced into a vehicle. The alarming report prompted officers to begin searching the area for the suspect vehicle described in the call.
Police soon located the vehicle and attempted to stop it. Authorities said the driver refused to pull over and instead tried to escape. During the encounter, the suspect vehicle was involved in a minor collision with a police cruiser before continuing to flee from officers through the area.
The chase ended around 10:47 p.m. when the vehicle crashed into a residence along Main Street in Coventry. The impact caused major damage to the home as the vehicle slammed into the structure. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and found the driver severely injured following the crash.
Despite emergency efforts, Derek Decosta was pronounced dead after the collision. Fortunately, officials said no one inside the house was injured at the time of the crash, though the property sustained significant structural damage from the impact.
Authorities say the investigation remains active. The case is being handled jointly by the Coventry Police Department, Rhode Island State Police, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. Residents of the damaged home have been temporarily relocated while officials assess the building’s safety and determine the full extent of the damage. Investigators are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
