Credit: AP/RICK SCUTERI 

Chantel Rodriguez

Staff writer

Cvr5570@psu.edu

Former wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders Henry Ruggs III was driving his Chevrolet Corvette at high speeds while under the influence before causing a fiery car accident that killed 23-year-old Tina O. Tintor and her dog.

Las Vegas authorities comment that Ruggs, 22, who decelerated from 157 to 127 mph, rammed into the back of the Toyota Rav4 in a familial area near the Las Vegas strip. His girlfriend Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington, 22, of Las Vegas, was with him and had a severe arm injury that was being surgically repaired as of Tuesday morning described by Rugg’s attornies David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld. Rugg’s seemed only to receive minor scratches and bruising from the airbag deploying upon impact.  

In Ruggs’ first court appearance, Prosecutor Eric Bauman detailed that his blood-alcohol level was .161, which is double the legal limit in Nevada, and a firearm was present in his vehicle. He is facing charges of being impaired while driving, which caused the death of an individual, and careless driving. District Attorney Steve Wolfson announced the possibility of pursuing more charges against Rugg’s. Those additional charges would be a second felony DUI because his girlfriend suffered severe injuries due to Rugg’s negligence.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure said in his 16 years of service to the community; he was utterly shocked reviewing the case details against Rugg’s. He added that it was the first time he had seen a vehicle traveling at such reckless speeds.   

At the bail hearing, the judge adjusted Ruggs’ bail at $150,000 after Baumann requested a million-dollar bond be set but was later denied. The judge also ordered Rugg’s not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and withhold from alcohol consumption. Ruggs later that evening posted bond according to his attorney Chesnoff. 

If he is charged and convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison for the DUI and a max of six years for reckless driving. These charges do not include the possibility of that second DUI charge that could hold the same amount of time in prison, totaling 46 years in prison. 

The team briefly released a statement of their shock at the incident. “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”. 

The spokesman of the NFL, Brian McCarthy, also expressed his concerns and condolences to both families, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim of this horrific tragedy. We will continue to gather facts and monitor the matter under our policies, but our thoughts at this time are with those impacted by this devastating incident.”

On Thursday, Tina O. Tintor’s family released a statement via their attorney Farhan Naqvi regarding their loss and asked the public for their privacy at such a hard time.

“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 parent’s life. Tina lived in Las Vegas since she was a baby,” the statement detailed. She loved her 3-year-old Golden Retriever, Max, who passed alongside her Tuesday morning.”

The family attorney also mentioned the family would not proceed to make any other statements at this moment.