Prosecutors in Henry Ruggs III case to receive his blood tests

As the tragic case involving the 22 year old former wide receiver gets underway, it now seems prosecutors will have further access to information.

Henry Ruggs' medical records to be released

According to a Las Vegas judge on Thursday, prosecutors involved in the case of Henry Ruggs III are entitled to his blood test results, as they seek to bring four felony drunken driving charges against the former Raiders wide receiver. It is understood, however, that they are not permitted to request information regarding what Ruggs actually said to doctors in the moments following the deadly crash, nor can they access information about the injuries that he suffered in the accident.

In his statement, Justice of the Peace Robert Walsh said he would be issuing a written order to invoke Nevada privacy laws to limit information available to prosecutors. "The blood test results will be released, in addition to the authentication of the medical records," Walsh said. "Nothing to do with conversations or treatment as to any patient-doctor relationship."

The Prosecution vs Ruggs' lawyers

As it is understood, the doctors involved will not be permitted to testify, however, the prosecution can indeed field testimony from police, firefighters, neighbors and passing motorists who were present at the time. On the other side, Peter Christensen, who is attorney representing Ruggs' girlfriend, Kiara Je'nai Kilgo-Washington - a passenger in the car - has contested the move as it relates to his client, saying that she was in fact a victim and as such the state is not entitled to her medical records.

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To date, attorneys for both Ruggs and Kilgo-Washington have declined to elaborate on the injuries that the couple suffered. Ruggs' lawyer David Chesnoff did, however, say in a previous statement made during a November 22nd hearing, that his client was in a leg cast for more than two weeks - both were hospitalized after the crash. Further to that Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson also said that he believed Ruggs' leg and Kilgo-Washington's arm were injured. It was later reported that Kilgo-Washington required surgery on her arm, while Ruggs was photographed in a wheelchair while wearing a foam neck brace during his initial court appearance the morning after the crash. Prosecutor Eric Bauman told the judge on Thursday that Kilgo-Washington's medical records were required in order to demonstrate that she received substantial injuries according to law. The preliminary hearing of evidence is now set for March 10th having initially been scheduled for March 10th.

Tragedy for Tina Tintor's family, Ruggs and the Raiders

As was previously reported, Henry Ruggs III, is accused of driving 156 mph in a residential neighborhood in his 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. Ruggs crashed into the rear of 23-year-old Tina Tintor's 2013 Toyota RAV4, rupturing the fuel tank and immediately setting a blaze. Tintor died in the blaze along with her dog, Max. At the time of the accident Ruggs' blood-alcohol content level was 0.16 which is twice the legal limit in Nevada.

In a sad move of solidarity, Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis attended Tintor's funeral. Ruggs was released by the Raiders in the immediate hours after the accident. He was a first-round draft pick out of Alabama and was most definitely considered a promising talent. Ruggs would later post bail at $150,000 and was later placed under house arrest with strict conditions including an ankle monitor and daily alcohol tests.

Ruggs is now facing four felony counts - DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm and two reckless driving charges. There is also a misdemeanor charge for possession of a gun while under the influence of alcohol as police found a loaded weapon in his car on the night of the accident. Should he be convicted, he will serve a mandatory prison sentence of two years but could face as much as 50 years.