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

12:47 PM ET
ESPN News Services

Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was driving 156 mph with a blood-alcohol content twice Nevada's legal limit before his car slammed into the rear of a vehicle that burned, killing a 23-year-old woman, according to prosecutors.

Ruggs had his initial court appearance Wednesday on felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving that could get him up to 26 years in state prison if he is convicted. The Raiders released Ruggs late Tuesday, just hours after the crash, his hospitalization and his booking into a Las Vegas jail.

Prosecutors said Ruggs was traveling 156 mph two seconds before the crash and was at 127 mph when the air bags deployed in his vehicle. Judge Joe M. Bonaventure responded that he couldn't recall speeds that high involved in a crash during his career on the bench.

Ruggs, appearing with his attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, was not asked to enter a plea to the charges, pending the formal filing of charges by Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson.

The name of the Las Vegas woman who died in the wrecked and burned Toyota RAV4 with her dog was not immediately made public.

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LOCAL NEWS

Report: Henry Ruggs III driving 156 mph before deadly Las Vegas crash

Ruggs appeared in court on Wednesday

By: Jordan Gartner Posted at 7:36 AM, Nov 03, 2021 and last updated 1:20 PM, Nov 03, 2021

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Henry Ruggs III appeared in a Las Vegas courtroom Wednesday morning after a deadly crash occurred in west Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Ruggs was reportedly speeding before the crash and police suspected him of driving under the influence.

RELATED: Henry Ruggs III to face charges in deadly DUI crash

Wednesday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported Ruggs was traveling 156 mph before Tuesday's crash on Rainbow Boulevard, according to his arrest report. Ruggs' car had slowed to 127 mph at the time of the crash.

Police also report the driver of the vehicle that Ruggs collided into was 23-year-old Tina Tintor.

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