Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is expected to plead guilty to “one count of DUI resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter,” according to ESPN, following the 2021 car crash that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog.
Ruggs, who was released from the Raiders less than 24 hours after the crash, will plead guilty to both counts during his hearing in the 8th Judicial District Court next week on May 10. He will serve anywhere from three to 10 years in the Nevada state prison.
The former wide receiver agreed to a plea deal that was presented in Las Vegas justice court Tuesday. The agreement included the dropping of one count of DUI causing substantial harm regarding his passenger—his girlfriend, Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington, sustained substantial injuries in the crash—and two counts of reckless driving.
The crash occurred Nov. 2, 2021, at 3:39 a.m., as Ruggs, who reached speeds of 156 mph, merged his Chevy Corvette into the right-most lane from the center lane on a three-lane road. Ruggs hit the back of Tintor’s vehicle, a Toyota RAV4, which caught on fire. Tintor was trapped, and firefighters were unable to rescue her.
After Ruggs initially refused a field sobriety test, police later discovered that his blood-alcohol level after the crash was 0.16, which is twice the legal limit in Nevada.
Tony Rodriguez was nearby the crash when it happened, and he detailed his experience of trying to save Tintor’s life that morning to Sports Illustrated contributor Jeff Pearlman in March 2022.
The 24-year-old Ruggs, who was drafted No. 12 in the 2020 NFL draft out of Alabama, has spent his time since the crash on house arrest after he was released on the $150,000 bail the day after the crash. The conditions of his house arrest include his having alcohol and location electronic monitoring devices in place.
