Fri Sep 13 17:15:59 UTC 2024: ## Drunken Driver Charged in Fatal Crash Killing NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau and Brother
**WOODBURY, N.J.** – Sean M. Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, appeared in court Friday via video from jail, facing charges related to the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. The two brothers were killed on August 29th while cycling near their childhood home in South Jersey.
Prosecutors revealed Higgins had a blood-alcohol content of .087, exceeding the legal limit in New Jersey, at the time of the crash. He is charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol while driving.
According to the prosecution, Higgins admitted to having consumed five to six beers on the day of the incident. He also acknowledged drinking while driving and failed a field sobriety test. Witnesses described Higgins driving aggressively behind a sedan, tailgating and speeding up when the vehicles ahead of him slowed down to pass the cyclists.
“He indicated he didn’t even see them,” Superior Court Judge Michael J. Silvanio stated, attributing the deaths to Higgins’s “impatience” and admitted alcohol consumption.
The defense painted a different picture of Higgins, describing him as a married father, law-abiding citizen, and “a loving father of two daughters.” They also claimed Higgins had a recent knee surgery, potentially affecting his performance on the field sobriety test.
Higgins faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The judge cited the severity of the potential sentence and Higgins’s admitted “impatience” as contributing to his decision to deny bail.
The Gaudreau brothers were set to be groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding the day after the accident. Their widows, Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau, described their husbands as inseparable throughout their lives. Both women are expecting children and delivered emotional eulogies at a double funeral on Monday.
“I urge everyone to never drink and drive,” Madeline Gaudreau pleaded. “Call a ride. Please do not put another family through this torture. The loss of Matty and John will leave a hole in the family, with his close friends, the community for eternity.”
The tragic incident shocked the hockey world. Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was a beloved player who enjoyed a successful career with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets. His passing has left a profound impact on the hockey community and beyond.
First Piper 