Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was involved in a two-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning. He and a female passenger were taken to a hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver of the other car was killed.
A preliminary investigation by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department indicated Ruggs’ Chevrolet Corvette crashed into the rear of a Toyota RAV-4, which then caught on fire. The body of a woman was discovered inside the Toyota.
“We are devastated by the loss of life and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family,” the Raiders said in a statement. Later Tuesday evening, the Raiders announced that Ruggs had been released.
Here’s what we know at the moment:
What are the charges against Henry Ruggs?
Las Vegas Police say Ruggs, 22, “showed signs of impairment” following the accident and will be charged with DUI resulting in death, which under Nevada law is a Class B felony. A conviction on that charge carries a sentence of two to 20 years in prison.
He is also facing a charge of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, which carries a sentence of one to six years.
What is Henry Ruggs’ status with the NFL?
The league released a statement on Tuesday: “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.”
After his release by the Raiders, Ruggs is now a free agent and can sign with any of the other 31 teams. However, he also could be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list under the NFL’s personal conduct or substance abuse policies.
How important was Henry Ruggs to the Raiders?
Ruggs, a first-round pick (12th overall) in the 2020 draft, led the team with 469 receiving yards this season. He scored two touchdowns and was the Raiders’ top deep threat, averaging 19.5 yards per catch.
Coming off a bye last week, Las Vegas has a record of 5-2, good for first place in the AFC West.
What’s next for Henry Ruggs?
He has an initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court scheduled for Wednesday morning.
