Former NFL star Henry Ruggs III, convicted for the crash that killed Tina Tintor, was transferred in mid-December to a higher-security prison in Nevada.
Henry Ruggs III, who is serving time for the Las Vegas traffic accident that claimed the life of Serbian national Tina Tintor, has been moved to a more secure facility, according to American media reports.
Ruggs was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but he could potentially be released as early as August 5, 2026, after serving the minimum portion of his sentence. The transfer between prisons reportedly occurred in mid-December.
ONLY ON 8: New surveillance footage captures the intense speed Henry Ruggs II was driving just moments before the deadly crash that took the life of 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. #8NN @VictoriaSaha has the story: https://t.co/3PnOn9o4QP pic.twitter.com/tHL1WkUjwz
— 8 News Now (@8NewsNow) November 5, 2021
“The Nevada Department of Corrections did not give a clear reason why Ruggs, who was serving his sentence in a minimum-security camp, was moved to a more secure institution. They only noted that offenders can be moved between facilities based on ongoing assessments,” U.S. media stated.
The Tragic Incident
Tina Tintor died in a horrific traffic accident in Las Vegas when Ruggs, who was intoxicated, crashed into her car. The unfortunate girl burned alive in the vehicle along with her dog. The tragedy occurred in the early morning hours of November 2, 2021, when the football player, driving a Chevrolet Corvette, struck Tina’s Toyota RAV4.
Ruggs was in the car with his girlfriend, Kiara Washington, traveling at 250 km/h (approx. 156 mph) in a 60 km/h zone when he hit Tina’s car. The crushed vehicle caught fire immediately. Witnesses reported hearing the girl screaming for help, but the flames were so intense that no one could get close. She and her dog, Maxie, perished in the inferno.
During the trial, Ruggs’ lawyers attempted to argue that Tina died because firefighters arrived 20 minutes late, but he was convicted regardless. This past summer, Ruggs was allowed to leave prison temporarily to speak at an event for former inmates, where he apologized to the victim’s family:
“First of all, I wish I could turn back time. I wish they could meet the real Henry Ruggs, not the one running from something. I sincerely apologize… for the fact that my face is constantly in the news and they have to be reminded of this situation every time they see me,” he said.
From Topola to Nevada
Beautiful Tina, whose death shook America, moved to Las Vegas from Topola, Serbia. “Her family fled Croatia during the war. They first lived in Kosovo, then came to the village of Jarmenovci near Topola. They lived in collective housing there until they received an immigrant visa; Tina was maybe two or three years old at the time,” her relative Stevan told the media.
Source: Kurir | Photo: Profimedia, Printscreen/Fox5