Henry Ruggs III apologizes to family of woman he killed in drunken car crash

Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III publicly apologized to the family of Tina Tintor, the woman he killed in a drunk driving accident in November 2021, saying at an appearance on Tuesday night that “I wish I could turn back the hands of time.”

Ruggs, who is serving a prison sentence of three to 10 years after pleading guilty to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, was on special release and speaking at an event organized by Hope for Prisoners, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit that helps formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society.

“I would love for them to meet the real Henry Ruggs and not the one that was escaping from something,” he said in a video shared by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I sincerely apologize not only for being a part of that situation, but … the fact that my face is always in the news, so they have to constantly be reminded of the situation.”

Authorities said Ruggs was driving his Corvette as fast as 156 mph at 3:40 a.m. when he crashed into the 23-year-old Tintor’s SUV. Las Vegas Metro Police said Ruggs “showed signs of impairment” after they responded to the collision, and that his blood-alcohol content was 0.16, more than twice Nevada’s legal limit, according to the police report.

Ruggs was sentenced in August 2023 and is eligible for parole in August 2026.

Josh Jacobs, a former teammate of Ruggs’ at Alabama and in Las Vegas, said in an April podcast appearance that he had been talking to teams on Ruggs’ behalf, and a couple of franchises seem willing to give him a shot at continuing his NFL career if he is granted parole.

“When you get that chance, man, don’t look back,” Jacobs said he told Ruggs.

Ruggs, 26, was the No. 12 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He totaled 921 receiving yards and caught four touchdowns in 20 career games before the crash. In three years at Alabama, he had 1,716 receiving yards with 24 touchdowns.

(Photo: Charles LeClaire / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)