Milford man charged in Hopkinton pedestrian crash pleads not guilty, held without bail

Norman Miller, The Milford Daily News
·1 min read
2

WOBURN — A Milford man who is accused of intentionally crashing his car into a woman and killing her in Hopkinton back in April was ordered held without bail after his arraignment on Tuesday.

Ryan Sweatt, 36, pleaded not guilty during the arraignment, held in Middlesex Superior Court, to one count of murder; five counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; and one count of driving to endanger.

The victim, Destini Decoff, 26, died April 6, two days after she was struck on Hayden Rowe Street (Route 85).

Authorities said Sweatt was allegedly involved in a road rage incident with another vehicle, in which Decoff was a passenger.

Ryann Sweatt, pictured during his April arraignment in Framingham District Court, was arraigned Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with what authorities describe a road rage death in Hopkinton.
Ryann Sweatt, pictured during his April arraignment in Framingham District Court, was arraigned Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with what authorities describe a road rage death in Hopkinton.

'This was an accident': Milford man pleads not guilty in fatal pedestrian crash

Authorities said eventually, both vehicles stopped and the occupants got out. Prosecutors allege Sweatt again got into his Honda Civic, began to drive away but then did a U-turn at a high rate of speed and struck Decoff before driving away. He was later pulled over and arrested.

Sweatt's attorney, Derenge Demissie, said the incident not intentional.

"We see this case as an unfortunate accident, not road rage, and hopefully the facts will come out at trial to show that," Demissie said Tuesday during the arraignment, according to WCVB-TV.

Sweatt will remain held without bail. He is due back in court on Sept. 4 for a pretrial conference.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Milford man accused of murder in pedestrian crash pleads not guilty