Henry Ruggs DUI car accident news – Las Vegas Raiders release star Alabama receiver ahead of pending felony charges

Former NFL star Henry Ruggs has been released from the Las Vegas Raiders after being charged with DUI resulting in death due to his involvement in a fatal car accident.

Ruggs, 22, who appeared in court on Wednesday morning in Las Vegas, was cut from the team on Tuesday night, according to ESPN.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) revealed in a tweet Tuesday afternoon that the star would be charged as a result of the car accident, which occurred in the central Las Vegas area at around 3am Tuesday morning.

"The preliminary investigation indicates the front of the Chevrolet collided with the rear of the Toyota," said the LVMPD.

Police reported that Ruggs stayed on the scene and "showed signs of impairment," after the accident.

Ruggs was drafted to the Raiders from the University of Alabama, and was in the middle of his best NFL season to date for the Raiders, with almost 500 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

Read our Henry Ruggs live blog for the latest news and updates…

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    VICTIM'S FRIEND CALLS RUGGS 'SELFISH'

    Devante Burnham, a close school friend of Tina's who attended Durango High School in Vegas with her, exclusively told The Sun: "I spoke to her a month ago. I happened to see her around the Summerlin area and I greeted her. 

    "Her and I have been friends since we were sophomores in high school. It is heartbreaking. I can't believe it. She was a wonderful soul."

    Hitting out at Ruggs, he blasted: "To me that kind of behavior is selfish. Because he's not thinking about anyone's well-being nor the possible fatal outcome and destruction he could cause.

    "It's selfish and it didn't need to happen."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    THE 'THREE-FINGER SALUTE'

    Ruggs from Alabama is known for "religiously" giving a three-finger salute to his late friend Roderic Scott after every touchdown, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

    Scott lost his life in a car accident at the age of 17. 

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    'CAN'T BE FLAGGED DOWN'

    Just a few days before the tragic crash, on October 25, Ruggs posted on Instagram an image of himself on the field with the caption "Can't be flagged down I'm the move".

    People have since returned to the post to leave comments in relation to the incident, with one commenting: "this caption didn't age well".

    A second user said: "But you got flagged for DUI manslaughter."

    "Helmets to handcuffs", said another.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RUGGS FACING BACKLASH

    Many have taken to Twitter to talk about the crash and have claimed that Ruggs career is now over following the DUI charge and possible prison sentence.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    WHAT HAS HENRY RUGGS SAID ABOUT THE CRASH?

    As the investigation continued, his attorneys told TMZ Sports, "On behalf of our client Henry Ruggs III we are conducting our own investigation as of this writing and ask everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts are gathered."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    $16MILLION CONTRACT

    After playing collegiately at Alabama, and winning a national championship in 2017, Henry Ruggs was then drafted into the NFL as the 12th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.

    He then went on to sign a four year, $16.6million contract which included a $9.6million signing bonus with all of it guaranteed.

    In 2021, Ruggs earned a base salary of $1,367,801, with a cap hit of $3,789,006 and a dead cap value of $13,640,421, according to Sportrac.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    WHO IS HENRY RUGGS' GIRLFRIEND?

    Rudy Washington was born Kiara Jenai Kilgo-Washington in November 1998, according to Fab Wags.

    She is an Alabama native who hails from Montgomery.

    Outside of being the NFL star's girlfriend, she is known as a volleyball player who plays for Paine College. Before college, she played for her high school, Park Crossing High.

    Rudy is building a social media following and vlogs on YouTube. In some of her recent videos, she and her boyfriend Henry discuss their family life, day-to-day activities and answer questions from followers.

    Rudy and Henry have reportedly been dating since high school and have one child together, a daughter named Kenzli.

    Kenzli was born May 7, 2020.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    ‘IMPAIRED AT 156 MPH’

    The standout wide receiver was allegedly flying on the roadway at around 3:40am on Tuesday, reaching 156 miles per hour and registering a blood alcohol level of .161 – which is twice the legal limit in Nevada, according to Clark County chief deputy district attorney Eric Bauman detailed during Ruggs' court appearance.

    ​​Ruggs refused a sobriety test at the scene, the police stated, before later submitting to a blood test.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    FACING 20 YEARS IN PRISON

    In a preliminary assessment of the incident, Las Vegas police suggested Ruggs "showed signs of impairment" after the crash. 

    He’s now facing DUI resulting in death, which under Nevada law is a Class B felony and reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, according to USA Today.  

    If convicted of both, Ruggs could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison for the DUI and up to six years for reckless driving charge.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RUGGS HAD BRAGGED ABOUT BEING A 'SAFE DRIVER'

    An older Twitter post of Ruggs' from almost exactly two years ago has re-surfaced online in the wake of the fatal crash.

    The post, dated November 29, 2019, came as part of an exchange between Ruggs and his girlfriend, Rudy Washington.

    Uploading a viral video of a car weaving through traffic at a high speed, Washington wrote: "A party night in ttown wit the “gang” [Woozy face] whew chile , I pray every time I get in that Red thang [Face with tears of joy]."

    Ruggs responded to the tweet with three crying face emojis, adding: "I am a very safe driver babylove."

    Hundreds of Twitter users have responded to the post with memes and remarks of irony, with one writing: "This did not age well."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RUGGS WAS SEEN PLAYING GOLF HOURS BEFORE CRASH

    The Las Vegas football star was recorded by his girlfriend, Rudy Washington, taking swings at the TopGolf course in Las Vegas barely four hours before he is accused of drunkenly ramming his Corvette into 23-year-old Tina Tintor's SUV.

    In the video, Washington is seen sitting at a table with another man while telling Ruggs "you be under pressure when you on camera."

    "That's what it is," she said to Ruggs, who did not appear to be intoxicated at the time.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    WAS HENRY RUGGS DRINKING BEFORE THE CRASH?

    Ruggs refused a sobriety test at the scene, police said, but later blood tests were taken at the hospital showing his intoxication levels.

    He had a blood-alcohol content twice Nevada's legal limit before his sports car slammed into the rear of a vehicle, killing Tina, prosecutors said.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    VICTIM'S FAMILY IS 'TORN APART'

    Tina Tintor's family members attended Henry Rugg's court appearance and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he met them for the first time.

    "They're torn apart," he said. "This was a terrible, terrible collision, so they’re mourning their loss. They’re grieving. They’re mad."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    VICTIM WAS 'HEARD SCREAMING' AFTER CRASH

    Tina’s Tintor's Toyota Rav4 burst into flames after the collision with Ruggs' car and slid more than 570 feet before coming to a stop just blocks from her home.

    A bystander, Alexander Hart, was nearby standing as a security guard at a condominium and rushed to help, according to the police report.

    When he arrived, he heard screams coming from the Toyota.

    Tina was still alive, he told the police but he couldn’t pull her out, because she was pinned inside the SUV.

    The Toyota “was soon overcome with smoke and heat from flames,” and Hart had to back away, according to the report.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    HENRY RUGGS' BACKGROUND

    Before his arrival to the league, Ruggs was a superstar for the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning a national championship in 2017.

    Ruggs was having a breakout year for the Raiders in his second season, recording 24 receptions, 469 yards, and two touchdowns this season.

    The Raiders last played on October 24, a 33-22 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND DIED IN A CAR CRASH

    Five years earlier, in March 2016, Ruggs lost his childhood best friend, Rod Scott, in a car accident while en route to attend a state playoff basketball game in Birmingham, Alabama.

    The pair had been due to travel to the game together, but Ruggs had fallen ill with the flu and decided not to attend.

    Scott, 17, was one of three unrestrained passengers ejected from a car that had rolled over along a rain-covered Interstate 65.

    The teen was airlifted to an area hospital with serious internal injuries, including a swollen brain and two collapsed lungs.

    Despite multiple surgeries to save his life, Scott was pronounced dead the next day.

    In tribute to his best friend, whom he first met in elementary school, Ruggs raises a three-finger salute to Scott every time he scores a touchdown.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    'ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE TO DRINK AND DRIVE'

    Former NFL star Emmanuel Acho commented on the Ruggs' DUI crash in a tweet condemning drunk-driving.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RUGGS MERCHANDISE REMOVED FROM RAIDERS STADIUM

    Football fans have reported online that Henry Ruggs merchandise has been removed from the Raiders stadium.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RAIDERS HEAD COACH'S PREPARED STATEMENT

    On Wednesday, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Rich Bisaccia read a prepared statement to the press.

    It said: "We want to express our sincere condolences to the victim’s family. A person lost their life yesterday morning and we think it’s important to keep focus on that when we talk about this tragic event. We’re deeply saddened for everyone affected especially the victim’s family.

    "That being said, we love Henry Ruggs and want him to know that. His terrible lapse of judgement of the most horrific kind, it’s something that he’ll have to live with for the rest of his life. The gravity of the situation is not lost on anyone here and we understand and respect the loss of life."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RAIDERS' QUARTERBACK COMMENTS ON CAR CRASH

    The team's quarterback Derek Carr said on Wednesday: "I rely on the foundation of my faith. I going to rely on that faith when times are hard and when times are easy."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    RAIDERS HEAD COACH SPEAKS OUT

    Las Vegas Raiders head coach Rich Bisaccia spoke on Wednesday about Henry Ruggs' fatal DUI car crash.

    After reading a statement, the coach answered questions from the media about how he dealt with news of the tragedy.

    “I don’t know if I can put into words the emotional feelings I went through.

    “I think there’s two separate entities,” Bisaccia said. “there’s Henry Ruggs the football player which is no longer part of the Raiders. And then Henry Ruggs the person who is certainly going through what he’s going through and is going to have to pay the consequences for the actions.”

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    THE RAIDERS' STATEMENT

    In a statement regarding their star player's deadly crash, the Raiders said: "The Raiders are aware of an accident involving Henry Ruggs III that occurred this morning in Las Vegas.

    "We are devastated by the loss of life and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family. We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time."

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    THE CRASH SCENE

    Shocking photos showed the victim's Toyota engulfed in flames, and video shows one car engulfed in a fireball while another beside it appears severely damaged.

    Two figures could be seen standing next to the totaled vehicle, with one sitting on the curb and the other pacing on the street.

    The wreckage caused a complete closure of Rainbow between Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road for several hours as police investigated.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    WHO IS RUGGS' GIRLFRIEND?

    Ruggs and Rudy Washington have been dating since the pair were teenagers.

    Rudy Washington was born Kiara Jenai Kilgo-Washington in November 1998, according to Fab Wags.

    She is an Alabama native who hails from Montgomery.

    Outside of being the NFL star's girlfriend, she is known as a volleyball player who plays for Paine College. Before college, she played for her high school, Park Crossing High.

    Rudy is building a social media following and vlogs on YouTube. In some of her recent videos, she and her boyfriend Henry discuss their family life, day-to-day activities and answer questions from followers.

  • G. P. Rodriguez

    HENRY RUGG'S COURT APPEARANCE, CONTINUED

    Prosecutors said the star was allegedly also in illegal possession of a firearm during the crash.

    The judge set Ruggs' bail at $150,000 with the highest level of electronic monitoring if he is released. The star will have to abstain from alcohol and other controlled substances.

    He is also ordered to not drive, and will surrender his passport.

    During the hearing, Ruggs only spoke to say "yes sir."

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