The Raiders released Henry Ruggs III just hours before he was scheduled to appear in court on numerous felony charges stemming from a catastrophic predawn automobile crash that left one lady dead and injured Ruggs and his female passenger.
On Tuesday, several miles west of the Las Vegas Strip at around 3:40 a.m., Ruggs and his passenger, both 22, were taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening after the Chevrolet Corvette he was driving slammed into the back of a Toyota Rav4 on a major roadway in a residential area.
Police say that the Toyota caught on fire, killing the unidentified woman and her dog.
In a statement, authorities stated that Ruggs “showed signs of impairment,” but did not mention the identity of both women or the injuries that Ruggs and the female passenger sustained.
Ruggs appeared in court Wednesday after being arrested on suspicion of DUI. Prosecutors say Ruggs was driving 156 mph just two seconds before the crash and was at 127 mph when the airbags deployed. Ruggs’ blood-alcohol content was 0.161 — twice the legal limit. A loaded firearm was also found in the vehicle. He now faces felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving.
Ruggs’ bail was set at $150,000 and he was ordered not to drive and to surrender his passport. Ruggs was also ordered to abstain from alcohol and other controlled substances.
Tuesday night the Raiders announced in a short statement that they were releasing Ruggs. In another statement released earlier that day, the Raiders said that they were aware of the fatal car accident and were “devastated by the loss of life,” and “in the process of gathering information.”
“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,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement.
