Fiery Las Vegas public tragedy is a reminder to redouble safety efforts | Street Scene

One of the chapters in my upcoming book "Dangerous By Design" is ‘Lessons Learned Too Late’ in which I explore how some people learn what happens to the brain when drugs are ingested only when they wake up in a hospital emergency room not knowing how they got there or that they are responsible for causing a horrific traffic crash which killed several people.

“Fatal Drunk Driving Crash” - “traffic homicide investigators on scene” - are newspaper headlines and TV breaking news in Las Vegas and elsewhere across the country reporting that promising Las Vegas Raiders football player Henry Ruggs III was involved in a fiery crash.

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The reporting goes a step further telling us motorist Tony Rodriguez and another passerby stopped to help, trying desperately to pull the driver out of the Toyota Ruggs hit but couldn’t get her out because the car quickly became fully engulfed in flames resulting in both men having to move away from the intense heat and smoke of the burning car.

These two brave men had to stand by and watch 23-year-old Tina Tintor being burned alive. The fellow helping Rodriguez, a security guard at a nearby hotel, was so traumatized he returned to the hotel but couldn’t speak to anyone other than to tell coworkers he was angry about what he witnessed.

Learning from investigations

The reason all aircraft crashes are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is to conclusively determine why a plane went down and to make their investigation and conclusions of the crash public so everyone understands what happened and what is necessary to prevent another crash from happening for the same reason.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may act, and usually does, on the recommendation(s) of the NTSB. Sometimes it says to ground some or all aircraft of similar make until the aircraft manufacturer provides proof remedial measures have been taken and the aircraft is safe to fly again.

If it is found to be pilot error or complete flight crew failure that too shall be published. In other words, we learn from others so that any particular crash not be repeated.

Working in unison as a community of caring people, readers of Street Scene bring knowledge of locations needing attention in one area or another to enhance transportation safety. Some writing to Street Scene have a particular understanding of what needs fixing, many only know something is wrong and asks Street Scene to investigate.

Which we do by publishing our findings and recommendations of what best remedy may be necessary and which agency is best suited to respond. However when the cause of a crash points to the human element, it becomes obvious the responsibility of the motoring public must bring the remedy to their own vehicle operation.

It is with the spirit of learning from the experience of others we bring this recent, very public tragedy to this page.

Dangers of DUI

Nevada prosecutors charge Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, with DUI homicide after toxicology testing revealed a blood alcohol level of .161%, twice the legal Nevada limit of .08% when he crashed into the rear of a Toyota killing Tintor and her dog. (.08 is pretty universal and also the Florida legal limit for noncommercial drivers aged 21 and over.) The report used by prosecutors in Ruggs bond hearing allege Tintor survived the initial impact and was burned to death.

Nobody with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .161 would have the cognitive ability to comprehend any reference to vehicle speed. Some drivers under-the-influence will drive 100+mph on residential streets others may drive 20 mph on the Interstate. One such Interstate traveler angrily asked why I pulled him over complaining he was the only one not speeding because he had been watching everyone whizzing past him like he was standing still.

So when prosecutors downloaded the speed information from Rugg’s cars EDR (Event Data Recorder) I’m sure Mr. Ruggs would take exception to being told he was driving 156 miles per hour two seconds prior to impact with the Toyota. Likewise I venture Mr. Ruggs would take exception to his BAC finding.

Take care of your friends

It is reported prior to the crash Ruggs and his girlfriend were at a golf driving range where they each found it comical trying to hit a golf ball after consuming alcoholic beverages. In the public video all can see Riggs swinging away and his girlfriend giggling at his fruitless gestures trying to hit a golf ball. This was a night of fun after all.

Which brings us full circle. It doesn’t require twice the legal BAC limit to be legally intoxicated. If a night of fun for you requires consuming alcoholic drinks or any other drugs, stay away from your car.

In fact don’t attempt to operate any vehicle on or off the road and remember, .08 might be the “legal limit” in your State, but depending on your most recent meal, body weight and time of rest .02 can render you incapable of recognizing vehicle speed or identifying any other critical condition such as a child running in front of your car.

Sadly, Henry Ruggs III is not unique in this type of tragedy, but his celebrity status makes what he did a very public tragedy. March 2012, in Tallahassee, two children and one adult were killed in an eerily similar rear end traffic crash at the intersection of US-90, West Tennessee Street, and US-27, North Monroe Street. One of Tallahassee’s most notorious intersections for high traffic crash numbers.

Next time you or a friend or someone in your family makes a decision to celebrate make sure nobody inebriated gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

There are several options available for those who must celebrate with drugs — call a taxi cab, a friend, Uber, Lyft, etc.

I leave each of you with your personal reflections, thoughts and willingness to share this terrible tragedy with friends you care about and family you love. So that it not be too late to learn.

Philip Stuart is a retired Florida State Trooper, Traffic Operations Projects Engineer and Forensics Expert Witness. Write to crashsites@embarqmail.com.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Fiery Las Vegas public tragedy a reminder to learn from mistakes