Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs set to be charged with DUI resulting in death after Vegas crash

Football star Henry Ruggs will be charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death after he crashed into a car early Tuesday, killing a woman inside.

The 22-year-old breakout wide receiver ‘showed signs of impairment’ after ramming his Corvette into the back of an SUV at 3.39am in the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.

Ruggs and a female passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

It’s not yet clear how the passenger of the other vehicle died. The Associated Press reports that the passenger was a woman.

The Alabama native is known for ‘religiously’ giving a three-finger salute to his late friend Roderic Scott after every touchdown, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. Scott lost his life in a car accident at the age of 17. 

Football star Henry Ruggs will be charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death after he crashed into a car early Tuesday, killing a woman inside 

Henry Ruggs III, 22, will be charged with DUI resulting in death after a crash Tuesday morning

Henry Ruggs III, 22, will be charged with DUI resulting in death after a crash Tuesday morning

Police say he rammed his Corvette into an SUV that went up in flames. The woman inside died

Police say he rammed his Corvette into an SUV that went up in flames. The woman inside died

The accident, which also injured Ruggs' passenger, shut down nearby roads for several hours

The accident, which also injured Ruggs’ passenger, shut down nearby roads for several hours

The Raiders said they were in the 'process of gathering information' Tuesday afternoon

The Raiders said they were in the ‘process of gathering information’ Tuesday afternoon

Police say they found a Toyota RAV4 in flames when they responded to the intersection of South Rainbow Blvd and South Spring Valley Pkwy at about 3.39am.

A fire crew then ‘located a deceased victim inside.’

‘The preliminary investigation indicates the front of the Chevrolet collided with the rear of the Toyota,’ the LVMPD said.

Ruggs remained on the scene but showed signs of impairment. He was transported to the University Medical Center, but is expected to recover.

Police have announced their intentions to charge Ruggs with DUI resulting in death. 

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 that charge, which carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in state prison, the Associated Press reports.

The football player was riding with a female passenger who was also taken to the hospital, according to KLAS. 

The accident caused hours-long road closures in the area, the station reports. 

The Raiders responded to the accident with a statement on social media: ‘The Raiders are aware of an accident involving Henry Ruggs III that occurred this morning in Las Vegas.

‘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.’ 

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy issued a statement saying, ‘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.’

Las Vegas attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld released a statement on behalf of Ruggs.

‘We are conducting our own investigation as of this writing and ask everyone to reserve judgement until all the facts are gathered.’

Ruggs posted video from Topgolf, an indoor golf course and bar, hours before the 3.40am crash at around midnight, according to TMZ.

The football star was born in Montgomery, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama, but he chose to skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft.

He caught 12 passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman in 2017. He caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa in the 26-23 victory against Georgia in the championship game.

Las Vegas police say the accident took place in the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas

Las Vegas police say the accident took place in the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas

He had more than 30 Division I offers and was set to attend Florida State at one point, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

He changed his mind at the last minute after visiting the grave of Scott, his teammate on the high school basketball team.

‘It came down to the wire. The decision was actually made on the way to the ceremony, on Signing Day morning,’ Ruggs told the paper. 

Ruggs lost his high school teammate Roderic Scott to a car accident when he was in high school. Ruggs gives a three-finger salute in honor of Scott after every touchdown

Ruggs lost his high school teammate Roderic Scott to a car accident when he was in high school. Ruggs gives a three-finger salute in honor of Scott after every touchdown

‘I mean he always told me (I’d go to Alabama), so that was kind of in the back of my head, but … it just felt like, after waking up and praying about it, I actually went to the graveyard and sat with him, and just sat and thought about it hard, and eventually (Alabama) is what came up.’

Ruggs was supposed to attend a state playoff game with Scott game on the day of his deadly accident, but decided against it because he was sick. 

Scott was on his way to the game with different friends when the driver lost control in the rain.

Scott was ejected along with two other unrestrained passengers. He was pronounced dead the next day.

Ruggs was the first draft pick for the Raiders after they moved to Vegas from Oakland in 2020. 

He was the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and has had 24 receptions, 469 yards and two touchdowns this year so far. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk