Raiders quarterback Derek Carr opened up on Wednesday about the fatal crash involving former teammate Henry Ruggs III.
A shaken Carr, speaking with reporters at practice, expressed his condolences to the family of the 23-year-old victim, identified as Tina Tintor, and revealed that he received a text message from Ruggs hours before the Tuesday morning crash.
According to Carr, Ruggs sent him a video of himself at Topgolf, a chain of sprawling indoor golf and entertainment centers. Ruggs was seeking feedback on his swing, Carr said, and he also sent the video to Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.
“He literally texted me at midnight a golf swing," Carr said. "He hit me and Hunter, ‘How’s my swing look? You guys need to help me.' And just seeing that, and then getting the news when we woke up, I just … I don’t even know how I’m supposed to handle that."
Ruggs also published a post on social media showing him at the indoor golf range, according to TMZ Sports.
The former Alabama star is facing felony DUI charges for the crash. Prosecutors say he was driving over 150 mph in the residential area just two seconds prior to impact. They also say a loaded gun was found in his vehicle.
The Raiders released Ruggs on Tuesday night, about a year and a half after taking him 12th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
For Carr, seeing Ruggs' former locker unoccupied really drove the point home. He also said he regretted not offering his "help."
“I just wish I could have done something,” Carr said. “No one ever wants to see this, whether it’s a football player or not. You never want to see something like this happen.”
Ruggs and his girlfriend suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries in the incident. The former NFL star appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheel chair and wearing a neck brace.
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