Former Raiders wide receiver was driving his Corvette at more than 150 mph early Tuesday, seconds before he ran into another car on a Las Vegas street, killing a woman and her dog, Clark County (Nev.) district attorney Steve Wolfson said Wednesday.
Wolfson said Ruggs also was legally drunk, with a blood alcohol content level twice the 0.08 percent legal limit. A loaded handgun was found in the car, according to prosecutors.
Ruggs sustained unspecified injuries in the crash and made his first court appearance Wednesday wearing a neck brace. The 22-year-old was treated at a hospital Tuesday before being booked at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving.
Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure set bail at $150,000 bail for Ruggs and ordered electronic monitoring if he makes bail. Prosecutors had asked for bail to be set at $1 million.
He is due back in court Nov. 10.
Eric Bauman, chief deputy district attorney, said in court that Ruggs was traveling at 156 mph about two seconds before the crash, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The car was moving at 127 mph when airbags deployed.
“There is no more suspicion. Henry Ruggs made a choice to drive while under the influence and be twice over the legal limit,” Wolfson said in a news conference after the court hearing. “I have never seen a case in my 41 years of a person who is charged with a crime driving in excess of 150 mph.”
The crash occurred about 3:40 a.m. Tuesday when Ruggs was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette north on Rainbow Boulevard in the city and rear ended a 2013 Toyota Rav4, police said. The Toyota immediately caught fire, and the 23-year-old driver died at the scene.
Ruggs’ girlfriend, Rudy Washington, was a passenger in the Corvette and sustained injuries that were termed serious.
After details of the crash emerged Tuesday night, the Raiders released Ruggs, who was in his second NFL season.
If convicted, Ruggs would face two to 20 years in prison.
Drafted in the first round in 2020 (12th overall) from Alabama, Ruggs caught 26 passes for 452 yards and two scores in 13 games (12 starts) in his rookie season.
Ruggs had 24 catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns in seven starts this season for the Raiders (5-2).
–Field Level Media