A late-night police call about a violent disturbance in Coventry ended with a car in a family's living room and a driver who did not survive. Police say a 50-year-old man died after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a home late Tuesday, shortly after officers tried to pull him over while investigating a reported knifepoint abduction on Anthony Street. A 911 caller had reported that three people were forced into a vehicle at knifepoint; officers say the passengers managed to escape when police briefly stopped the car and the driver sped off. The homeowner and her family were not injured, but the house, which also houses a small business, sustained significant damage and the family has been displaced.
Police Say Victims Escaped After a Brief Stop
According to WJAR, Coventry officers spotted the vehicle on Washington Street and initiated a motor-vehicle stop. Police say the driver backed into a cruiser, the passengers got out, and the driver then took off. A short time later, officers found the car after it had slammed into the Greenstein family home at 1044 Main Street at about 10:47 p.m. The driver was identified as 50-year-old Derek Decosta of Pawtucket, who was taken to a hospital and later died, WJAR reports.
Homeowner Wakes to Loud Bang and a Damaged Business
Homeowner Diane Greenstein told reporters she had been asleep on the living room couch when a sudden crash jolted her awake. She described hearing a "loud bang" and later said, "Nothing like this has ever happened, we've owned the house since 2016," according to NBC Boston. The property doubles as the headquarters for the Bath Witch soap business. NBC Boston reports the family is now staying in a hotel while a structural engineer evaluates the home, and that the damage could delay shipment of the shop's subscription boxes.
State Police and Attorney General's Office Join Probe
Local reporting notes that Coventry police have notified the Rhode Island State Police and the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, which are both assisting with the investigation. Authorities have not released any information about the three people who were allegedly forced into the vehicle, nor have they said whether any charges will be filed, according to WarwickPost. Officials say the crash totaled the family's cars and left the home structurally compromised.
Surveillance Footage and Unanswered Questions
WJAR reports that surveillance video from a nearby business captured the moments leading up to the collision, and officers are reviewing that footage as part of the case. Investigators have not yet released the identities of the three people who were allegedly taken into the car, and Coventry detectives are asking the public to share any tips or video that might help their investigation, WJAR says.
Legal Implications
Because the case involves an alleged abduction and a subsequent death, multiple agencies are coordinating at the scene and handling evidence collection, and police say the investigation remains active. So far, authorities have not announced any arrests or charges. NBC Boston says the Coventry Police Department is leading the local response while state investigators support the probe.
