The Chevy Corvette reached speeds of 156 mph as it tore down a residential street in Las Vegas in November 2021. Moments later, the corvette smashed into a Toyota and caused the gas tank to explode. Witnesses tried to help the driver of the Toyota, a 23-year-old woman, but she died in the fire. Her dog also died in the blaze.
The driver of the corvette, Henry Ruggs III, was a wide receiver with the Las Vegas Raiders at the time. He now faces four felony charges for driving under the influence and reckless driving. His preliminary hearing is set for next month.
Right now, pedestrian deaths in the U.S. have spiked to nearly record levels amid a national surge in reckless driving. And behavioral scientists are trying to better understand reckless drivers so that tragedies like the Las Vegas accident can be predicted and avoided. International studies have found that some drivers are more prone to risky behavior, but they haven’t figured out why.
