January 1, Raiders release Henry Ruggs III following fatal DUI crash, felony charges

The Las Vegas Raiders released wide receiver Henry Ruggs III following a fatal DUI crash that left a 23-year-old woman and her dog dead. Prosecutors say Ruggs was driving 156 mph with a blood alcohol content twice Nevada’s legal limit before he slammed into the rear of a Toyota RAV4 that went ablaze.

Ruggs, 22, appeared before a judge during his initial court appearance on Wednesday for the felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure said he was troubled by his initial review of the case, adding that in his 16-year career, he had never heard of a crash involving such a high rate of speed. He set Ruggs’ bail at $150,000 — though prosecutors requested $1 million — with home confinement, electronic monitoring, no alcohol, no driving, and the surrender of his passport.

Tina O. Tintor was the name of the Las Vegas woman who died with her dog in the fiery wreck. Records show she lived just several blocks away from the crash on a busy thoroughfare in a residential area west of the Las Vegas strip.

Prosecutor Eric Bauman said airbag computer records showed that Ruggs’ Corvette decelerated from 156 mph to 127 mph before it slammed into Tintor’s RAV4 at about 3:40 a.m. Tuesday, rupturing the vehicle’s fuel tank and igniting a fireball.

The Raiders released Ruggs, a first-round draft pick in 2020, just hours after the crash and shortly after he was released from a hospital and booked into jail.

Rugs is due in court again on Nov. 10.

Source:

Henry Ruggs III drove 156 mph seconds before fatal car crash, prosecutors say