On August 29, the unthinkable happened when NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew lost their lives in a tragic bicycle accident on a rural road in South Jersey. They were just hours away from standing as groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding. The driver involved, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, is facing serious charges after his blood-alcohol level was found to be .087, exceeding New Jersey’s legal limit of .08, according to prosecutors.
During a virtual court hearing, Higgins was charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and drinking alcohol in a vehicle. Prosecutors highlighted his alleged history of road rage and aggressive driving, prompting the judge to order his detention until the trial. Disturbingly, Higgins’ wife recounted a conversation they had right after his arrest, where she confronted him about his reckless driving habits: “You were probably driving like a nut like I always tell you,” she stated, as reported by first assistant prosecutor Jonathan Flynn.
Higgins’ defense team painted a different picture, portraying him as a caring husband and father who made a critical error that night. “He’s an empathetic individual and he’s a loving father of two daughters,” attorney Matthew Portella asserted. “He’s a good person who made a horrible decision that night.” Following the crash, Higgins admitted to drinking five or six beers and acknowledged that he had been consuming alcohol while driving, a detail outlined in the criminal complaint.
The complaint sheds light on his state of mind prior to the incident, revealing he had an argument with his mother earlier in the day and then engaged in a two-hour phone call with a friend while driving with an open container. Witness accounts indicated that Higgins was driving aggressively, speeding, and tailgating another car. As cyclists approached, it’s reported that Higgins accelerated, ultimately colliding with the Gaudreau brothers without noticing them in time.
Superior Court Judge Michael J. Silvanio expressed that Higgins’ impatience was directly linked to the deaths of two people, warning that he could face a substantial prison sentence of up to 20 years. Despite Higgins holding a master’s degree and working in finance, his wife raised concerns about his drinking habits that have reportedly worsened since he began working from home during the pandemic.
Johnny Gaudreau, affectionately known as ‘Johnny Hockey’, was a beloved player with a decade-long career in the NHL, looking forward to his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets following a lucrative seven-year contract. At the emotional double funeral for the brothers, their widows, Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau, delivered heartfelt tributes, with Madeline urging the public to refrain from drinking and driving: “Call a ride. Please do not put another family through this torture,” she pleaded.
In an attempt to secure bail, Higgins’ defense suggested that he could use a locking device to prevent further alcohol consumption while driving. However, prosecutors challenged this notion, arguing that such measures wouldn’t really tackle the “fundamental issue” of his aggressive driving behavior exacerbated by alcohol.
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