Brother of 23-year-old woman killed in Henry Ruggs III crash speaks out

The parents of the 23-year-old woman killed when NFL wide receiver Henry Ruggs III crashed into her car early Tuesday morning in Las Vegas are “destroyed,” the woman’s brother told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

“I almost can’t even look at them,’’ said Djordje Tintor, the older brother of Tina Tintor, who died in the fiery crash during which Ruggs was traveling 156 mph with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. “Every time I look at them it just breaks my heart.’’

Djordje Tintor, 25, said his family escaped war-torn Serbia in 2000 before moving to Las Vegas and that his parents were maintaining their privacy after the fatal accident.

“They’re not comfortable with the attention and everything,’’ he said. “They just want to grieve in their way.’’

Attorney Farhan Naqvi, retained Thursday by Tina Tintor's family, issued a statement later in the day.

"Tina’s tragic loss has devastated her family beyond a grief they could ever comprehend,'' the statement read. "Family was everything to Tina, and she was the light of her parents’ life. Tina lived in Las Vegas since she was a baby. She loved her 3-year-old Golden Retriever, Max, who passed alongside her Tuesday morning.

"The Tintor family appreciates privacy as they mourn. May Tina rest in peace.

"No further statements will be made from the family at this time."

Djordje Tintor told USA TODAY Sports he was struggling to find the words to describe his emotions.

“It doesn’t feel real,’’ he said. “It’s like, what are the chances, you know?’’

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department said it responded at approximately 3:39 a.m. to a vehicle collision between a Chevrolet Corvette driven by Ruggs, who was released by the Las Vegas Raiders after the accident, and a Toyota RAV-4 driven by Tintor. The Toyota was on fire and fire department personnel discovered Tintor inside the vehicle.

Her dog also died in the crash, and at the time of the crash they were driving home from a park, according to Djordje Tintor, who said his sister “always thought about everyone else before herself. No second thought, no nothing.’’

Ruggs, 22, is facing up to 20 years in prison for DUI resulting in death, which under Nevada law is a Class B felony.

He is also facing a charge of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, which carries a sentence of one to six years.

Bail was set at $150,000 on Wednesday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Henry Ruggs DUI: Brother of woman killed in Las Vegas crash speaks out