The victim in the horrifying crash allegedly caused by former Las Vegas Raiders wideout Henry Ruggs III was burned to death, according to a coroner’s report.
Tina Tintor, 23, died of “thermal injuries” on Nov. 2 when Ruggs allegedly plowed his Corvette — which prosecutors said was speeding as fast as 156 mph — into her Toyota RAV4. She & her dog max both did not survive the accident.
Coroners office release the finding this Tuesday, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.
“Other significant conditions contributing to her death were inhalation of products of combustion, fractures of the nasal bones, right-sided ribs … left forearm, and [chest],” the statement said. “The manner of her death was accidental.”
Police said Ruggs’ Corvette Stingray struck Tintor’s SUV with “such violent force” that it immediately burst into flames, trapping her and her dog inside despite rescue efforts at the scene, the Review-Journal
Authorities said Ruggs’ corvette struck the victim’s SUV with such force that it immediately burst into flames causing her and the dog to be trapped inside of the vehicle.
It’s been a difficult few days for the Raiders, who are still coming to terms with losing one of their own. Ruggs was cut on Monday afternoon less than 24 hours after the deadly crash. A video was shared of his girlfriend Kilgo-Washington from the crash scene where you can see him sobbing in grief alongside Tintor’s car while it burst into flames.
“That’s Henry Ruggs right there,” a witness said at one point. “He plays for the Raiders.”
Tintor, also of Las Vegas, dreamed of becoming a computer programmer. She had worked for Target about two years before taking an insurance company job the Review-Journal reported.
“She was a force to be reckoned with in the best possible way,” high school friend Mia Galvan told the newspaper last month. “She was never afraid to be herself. She never grew out of that.”
The prosecutor said that when Rugg’s blood alcohol content was later analyzed, it measured at .161%–more than twice the legal limit. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on these charges.
After posting $150,000 for bail, Rugg is on house arrest under strict conditions that include monitoring his alcohol intake.
The former Raiders star will appear before the court on January 4th and 10th for a status check, followed by his preliminary hearing later this year.
Attorneys for Ruggs have suggested they may question whether the disgraced NFL superstar caused Tintor’s death. They claim that a witness at scene told them firefighters were slow to respond and flames consumed his Toyota car within minutes of arriving on-site
Denying the claim, spokesman’s for the county says the passenger compartment of the vehicle was not survivable.
If you or a loved one have been in accident that has resulted in injury or death please reach out to the Accident Injury Legal Center to find out your legal rights.
Call the Accident Injury Legal Center Helpline at 855-906-3002.