NFL player Henry Ruggs was driving 156mph about 2 seconds before his car slammed into another vehicle in Las Vegas early Tuesday, killing a 23-year-old woman.
When the airbags deployed in Ruggs’ Corvette, it was moving at 127mph.
Ruggs’ blood alcohol limit tested at 0.161, more than twice Nevada’s legal limit for drivers.
The victim and her dog were trapped in her Toyota RAV4 after Ruggs swerved into her lane and struck the vehicle from behind.
The RAV4 caught fire. Officials say both Ruggs’ car and the Toyota rolled over 500 feet after the crash.
The woman and her dog were pronounced dead at the scene. Ruggs’ girlfriend was injured in the crash.
He’s charged with driving under the influence resulting in death and reckless driving. Prosecutors said other charges are possible.
The wide receiver was dropped by the Las Vegas Raiders after the crash.
Witness Tried to Save Woman, Hasn’t ‘Slept Since’
A witness of the aftermath of the Tuesday crash involving Henry Ruggs said he tried desperately to pry the woman who died from her car but the fire spread too quickly.
Tony Rodriguez was one of the witnesses who were first at the scene of the accident several miles west of the Las Vegas Strip at about 3:30 a.m.
He said, “Everything we tried just wasn’t working. The fire just grew so fast. She was actually still alive. You could hear her breathing. She had her seat belt on and I was trying to cut that away. Trying to grab them by their shoulders and pull them out but that wasn’t working. They were pinned.”
Rodriguez was referring to the 23-year-old woman’s dog, who also died in the crash.
Rodriguez sent a message to the woman’s family and said those who tried to save her did everything they could.
“I haven’t slept since the accident. It’s horrific. It’s sad that somebody could be going that fast and cause that accident like that. I’m sorry.”
