Driver charged with killing NHL's Johnny Gaudreau and his brother had .087 blood-alcohol level

 

According to a prosecutor on Friday, the motorist accused of killing NHL hockey star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they were riding a bicycle on a rural road had a blood alcohol content of.087, which is higher than the state's legal limit of.08.
The night before they were scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie's wedding, on August 29, Gaudreau, 31, and brother Matthew, 29, were shot and slain close to their childhood home in South Jersey.

The driver, Sean M. Higgins, 43, of neighboring Woodstown, New Jersey, is accused with reckless driving, having an open container, and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle in addition to two counts of death by auto. He was ordered to be detained until trial by a judge at a virtual court session on Friday, following the prosecution's description of his alleged history of violent driving and road rage.

“'You were probably driving like a nut like I always tell you you do. And you don’t listen to me, instead you just yell at me,'” his wife told Higgins when he called her from jail after his arrest, according to First Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Flynn of Salem County.

The defence described Higgins as a married father and law-abiding citizen before the 8:19 p.m. crash.

“He’s an empathetic individual and he’s a loving father of two daughters,” said defence lawyer Matthew Portella. “He’s a good person and he made a horrible decision that night.”

According to the criminal complaint, Higgins admitted to having five or six beers that day and to drinking and driving. According to the complaint, he also failed a field sobriety test. On Friday, a prosecutor revealed that he had been drinking at home following his conclusion of a business call at approximately 3 p.m., during which he had an uncomfortable chat with his mother regarding a family issue.

Flynn added that after that, he drove about in his Jeep with an open container and spoke on the phone for two hours with a friend. The driver of the sedan reported to police that he had been tailgating and driving an aggressive style behind it, going slightly above the 50 mph speed limit.

When she and the vehicle ahead of her slowed down and veered left to go around the cyclists, Higgins sped up and veered right, striking the Gaudreas, the two other drivers told police.

“He indicated he didn’t even see them,” said Superior Court Judge Michael J. Silvanio, who said Higgins' admitted “impatience” caused two deaths.

The judge stated that Higgins was a flight risk and that he may receive a sentence of up to 20 years.

According to Higgins' attorneys, he is a combat veteran of Iraq, holds a master's degree, and works in finance for a company that treats addiction. But since working from home, according to his wife, he's been drinking frequently, Flynn said.


Johnny Gaudreau, popularly known as "Johnny Hockey," was scheduled to begin his third season in the league in 2022 after agreeing to a seven-year contract worth US$68 million. Gaudreau played ten complete seasons in the league. He spent his first eight seasons as a player with the Calgary Flames, where he rose to prominence as one of the league's best players and a beloved figure among North American fans.