At 3:30 Tuesday morning in Las Vegas, tragedy struck as a woman and her dog were killed in a fiery car crash. The crash also involved a National Football League player named Henry Ruggs III, a well-regarded prospect from the 2020 draft class. Ruggs, a Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver, was arrested later that day on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The incident first began as Ruggs and his girlfriend were driving down a non-freeway street at around 156 miles an hour in his custom Corvette Stingray. He was caught on surveillance footage that shows him streaking down South Rainbow Boulevard towards an intersection, where the unsuspecting Tina Tintor and her dog were in her Toyota RAV4. An apartment complex owner named Alex Hart was the first on the scene after hearing a car’s tires screeching on asphalt followed by a loud crash. Upon getting there, Hart saw Ruggs and his girlfriend, Rudy Washington, laying in the street next to the totaled Corvette. Washington cradled Ruggs in her arms as he was visibly upset, yelling and crying. With the Toyota burning behind them, Hart attempted to remove Tintor, but the heat of the fire made it impossible for him to do anything, and by the time authorities arrived it was too late for Tina and her three year old Golden Retriever, Maxi.
Initially, police who were talking to Ruggs noticed he was slurring his words and was visibly drunk. After taking Ruggs and his girlfriend to the hospital, police asked his permission to perform a blood alcohol test, which he refused. A judge later signed a warrant forcing a test to be made, where it was found that Ruggs’ BAC was around .161, which is double the legal limit of .08. He was arrested and given a bail of 150,000 dollars, despite prosecutors asking for a million dollar bail.
Ruggs was brought before the court Wednesday in a neck brace and wheelchair, where it was revealed that he also had a loaded weapon in the car. The prosecution has charged Ruggs with DUI, reckless driving resulting in bodily harm (Rudy Washington) as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm while under the influence. Ruggs was released on bail and awaits trial at his home. He could face 46 years in prison as a result of his actions.
The victims of Ruggs’ actions not only included Tina Tintor and her dog, but her family and friends. The family’s lawyer released a statement that said “Tina’s tragic loss has devastated her family beyond a grief they could ever comprehend… Family was everything to Tina, and she was the light of her parents’ life.” Our hearts here at the King’s Page goes out to Tina and her family.
