26-year-old Massachusetts woman dies after being struck by vehicle in alleged road rage incident

HOPKINTON – A Massachusetts woman seriously injured in a road rage incident has died, according to family.

Family members have announced that 26-year-old Destini Decoff passed away in the hospital on Saturday as they try to raise money for her funeral to give her a proper burial.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Hopkinton Chief of Police Joseph Bennett announced last week that 36-year-old Ryan Sweatt of Milford has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, operating to endanger and a marked lanes violation in connection with striking Decoff with his car Thursday night in Hopkinton.

The preliminary investigation suggests that Sweatt was operating a Honda Civic on Route 85 in Hopkinton when he became engaged in an apparent road rage incident with another vehicle. At some point, some of the occupants of the other vehicle, including Decoff, exited the car. Sweatt subsequently made a U-turn at a high rate of speed and struck the victim in the roadway.

Decoff’s mother thanked the hospital that treated her daughter.

“I’m forever grateful to Umass Memorial Medical Center. I know from working in the medical field you are supposed to hold in your emotions. All the doctors, all different types of trauma surgeons were amazing. The anesthesiologist cried with me saying how sorry she was. Those trauma ICU nurses are unmatched by no other! Hugging & crying with my other kids & family. I had a nurse that wasn’t even my daughter’s nurse telling me she’s from Medway & how popular my daughter is there. “Medway loves her” is what she said….this nurse let me help her make my daughter’s final handprints & printed her heartbeat….. I’m here to give them all the credit they deserve! So many of them said we can tell underneath all her injuries she is a pretty girl. I said absolutely beautiful I will treasure these forever.”

She also stated that her biggest fear as a mother became a reality as her first born and best friend is no longer with her. She vowed justice for her daughter.

This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, Hopkinton Police, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s office, Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section and Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis Section.

Charges are likely to be upgraded after Decoff’s death.