NFL player facing charges after 'horrific' fatal car accident
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs is set to be charged with DUI resulting in death after he was involved in a fatal car crash on Tuesday morning.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that Ruggs will be charged with driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in death following the crash in the Nevada gambling haven.
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The statement said Ruggs' Corvette sports car slammed into the back of a Toyota RAV4 sports utility vehicle at a junction roughly five miles west of the Las Vegas strip.
Police said emergency services called to the scene found the Toyota in flames with the deceased victim inside.
Police said Ruggs - who showed "signs of impairment" - suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash and was treated in hospital.
"The preliminary investigation indicates the front of the Chevrolet collided with the rear of the Toyota," the Las Vegas Police Department statement said.
"The driver of the Chevrolet, identified as 22-year-old Henry Rugs III, remained on scene and showed signs of impairment.
"He was transported to UMC hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Ruggs will be charged with DUI resulting in death. This is an on-going investigation."
According to The Associated Press, Ruggs had a female passenger in the car who was injured and transported to hospital.
She has not been identified.
Henry Ruggs facing prison time if convicted
According to Nevada state sentencing guidelines, the 22-year-old faces a minimum sentence of two years in prison if convicted and a maximum of 20 years in jail.
The Raiders issued a statement following the deadly crash.
"The Raiders are aware of an accident involving Henry Ruggs III that occurred this morning in Las Vegas," the team said.
"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 NFL offered condolences 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," the league said in a statement.
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.”
Ruggs is a second-year wide receiver who was taken 12th overall in the 2020 draft after a productive three-year career at Alabama, including helping the Crimson Tide win the national championship as a freshman in 2017.
He has 24 catches for a team-high 469 yards and two touchdowns this season.
As a rookie in 2020, he had 26 catches for 452 yards and two touchdowns.
Ruggs caught 12 passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman with Alabama in 2017.
He caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the 26-23 victory against Georgia in the championship game.
with agencies
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