Police: Raiders’ Ruggs to face DUI case in fatal crash
Raiders wide LAS VEGAS — receiver Henry Ruggs III is facing a driving under the influence charge after a fiery vehicle crash Tuesday in Las Vegas that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured, authorities said.
Police said Ruggs was driving a Chevrolet Corvette a little before 3:40 a.m. when it crashed into the rear of a Toyota Rav4 on a thoroughfare in a residential area west of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Toyota caught fire and the driver died, police said.
She was not immediately identified.
Ruggs, 22, “showed signs of impairment,” police said in a statement that said he
will be charged with felony DUI resulting in death.
Ruggs and his female passenger were hospitalized. His injuries were described by officials as not life-threatening. His female passenger was not identified.
Charges were not immediately filed. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he was aware of the crash and would await results of the police investigation.
Probation is not an option in Nevada for a conviction on a charge of DUI causing death, which carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in state prison.
Ruggs’ attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld,
said that on behalf of their client they also were investigating the crash “and ask everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts are gathered.”
The Raiders said they are aware of the accident. “We are devastated by the loss of life and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family,” the team said. “We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”
Ruggs is a second-year wide receiver from Alabama. He has 24 catches for a team-high 469 yards and two touchdowns this season.