Heartbreak and Legal Battles: The Gaudreau Family’s Tragic Loss
In a courtroom in Salem, New Jersey, the air was thick with emotion as the family of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew listened to the legal wrangling over their tragic deaths. The brothers were struck by a driver allegedly under the influence, and the courtroom drama unfolded as lawyers debated whether the Gaudreaus’ own alcohol consumption played a role in the fatal accident.
On Tuesday, after nearly two hours of intense legal arguments, a judge ruled that the issue of the brothers’ blood alcohol content was irrelevant under New Jersey criminal law. This decision upheld all charges against the driver, including manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio stated, “There’s no credence in the argument there was contributory negligence on the part of the cyclists.”
The defense had pointed out that the Gaudreaus had blood-alcohol levels of .129 or above, exceeding the .08 legal limit in New Jersey. In contrast, Sean Higgins, the driver, had a recorded blood alcohol content of .087. Higgins’ legal team had hoped to reduce or dismiss the manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges based on this information.
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Mestern countered, “To say that their BACs may have contributed to the cause of death is a reach to say the least.” He emphasized that other drivers had reported the brothers were riding safely on the edge of the road, not weaving into traffic. Prosecutors accused Higgins of being impaired by alcohol and driven by road rage when he collided with the Gaudreaus.
Mestern further elaborated, “There are four witnesses that witnessed the defendant speeding and illegally passing the Bronco on the right when he struck the brothers. The witnesses also saw the brothers riding single file, with the flow of traffic, on the fog line just prior to being struck by the defendant.”
The tragic incident occurred on the eve of their sister’s wedding on August 29, 2024, as the Gaudreaus were cycling near their hometown in southern New Jersey. Both brothers left behind grieving families, with Johnny Gaudreau’s widow, Meredith, giving birth to their third child on April 1. The wedding was postponed until this summer.
Johnny Gaudreau, affectionately known as “Johnny Hockey,” was preparing for his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after an eight-season stint with the Calgary Flames. Matthew, who shared his brother’s passion for hockey, played at Boston College and was working as a high school coach.
Sean Higgins, a 44-year-old from Woodstown, New Jersey, faces serious charges, including two counts each of reckless vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter, along with evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident. He was discovered near his damaged vehicle, which had stalled about a quarter mile from the crash site.
Higgins, a combat veteran and married father of two, worked for an addiction treatment company. He admitted to police that he had consumed about a half-dozen beers that day, some while driving, following an upsetting phone call with his mother.
Higgins’ lawyers, while acknowledging the Gaudreaus were cycling without lights after dark, insisted they were not trying to blame the victims or add to the family’s grief. “Mr. (Richard) Klineburger and I are not blaming the two bicyclists for the incident. That would be ridiculous. That would be wrong,” lawyer Matthew Portella stated, as the Gaudreaus’ parents and sisters looked on with pained expressions.
Portella argued that the grand jury had not been presented with all the facts before approving charges that alleged Higgins was intentionally reckless and left the scene. However, Mestern maintained that the indictment was sound, and the judge agreed, sending the charges to trial and scheduling the next hearing for June 10.
Higgins faces a potential maximum sentence of 70 years in prison if convicted on all counts. His legal team has rejected a plea offer of 35 years, setting the stage for a high-stakes trial.
- Johnny Gaudreau was known as “Johnny Hockey.”
- He was set to start his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
- Matthew Gaudreau played hockey at Boston College and was a high school coach.
- Sean Higgins faces charges including reckless vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter.
- The next court hearing is scheduled for June 10.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
