On a tragic evening, 31-year-old professional hockey player Johnny Gaudreau, along with his 29-year-old brother Matthew, were struck and killed while bicycling on a rural road. The two brothers were near their childhood home in South Jersey, anticipating the joyous occasion of their sister's wedding the following day, where they were to stand as groomsmen.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the Gaudreau brothers was identified as 44-year-old Sean M. Higgins of Woodstown, New Jersey.
According to police reports, Higgins was driving his Jeep aggressively behind another car. When the vehicles ahead of him slowed and moved to the left to safely pass the cyclists, Higgins accelerated and veered to the right, striking both brothers. Authorities who responded to the scene detected a strong odor of alcohol, and an open container was found in his vehicle.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Higgins's blood-alcohol level was. 087, which is above the legal limit in New Jersey. He admitted to consuming five or six beers earlier that day. Bodycam footage from his arrest captured him undergoing and failing a field sobriety test. He was taken into custody and has since been held for trial.
Higgins has been charged with two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. A grand jury later added more serious charges, including two counts of aggravated manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors had offered a plea deal that would have resulted in a 35-year prison sentence, which he rejected. The case is now set to proceed to trial. The defense has argued that the tragic event was a result of unfortunate circumstances and not criminal intent, while the prosecution maintains that Higgins's actions were reckless and fueled by alcohol.
