Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau: Time extended to indict accused
Driver Charged with Killing NHL Player Johnny Gaudreau Appears in Court
The driver charged with the tragic deaths of NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, in a cycling accident on a rural New Jersey road made a brief appearance in court on Tuesday. The judge granted prosecutors an extension of 30 days to seek formal charges in the Gaudreaus’ deaths, marking the first time the families came face to face in court.
Sean M. Higgins, the 44-year-old defendant from Woodstown, New Jersey, was allegedly impaired after consuming multiple beers on the day of the accident. Authorities also mentioned his history of road rage and aggressive driving behavior.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, tragically lost their lives near their childhood home in South Jersey on August 29, just before their sister’s wedding. The Gaudreau family, including their father Gus Gaudreau, refrained from commenting on the case during the court proceedings.
According to police reports, Higgins admitted to driving around for two hours while on the phone with a friend following a distressing conversation with his mother. Eyewitnesses stated that Higgins was driving aggressively and intentionally struck the Gaudreau brothers while they were cycling.
Higgins tested above the legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.08 and failed a field sobriety test. He currently faces preliminary charges of two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a vehicle. If convicted, Higgins could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Known as “Johnny Hockey,” Johnny Gaudreau had a successful career in the NHL, playing for the Calgary Flames for eight seasons before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets. His untimely death has left the hockey community in mourning.
Defense lawyer Matthew Portella described Higgins as a loving father of two daughters who made a tragic mistake that fateful night. Portella refrained from additional comments following the court appearance.
