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Court Upholds Charges Against Driver in Gaudreau Brothers’ Fatal Crash

A New Jersey judge ruled that the Gaudreau brothers’ alleged intoxication is irrelevant under state law, allowing the case against Sean Higgins to proceed to trial.

Sep 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; A tribute to the late Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau is shown on the screen before the first period of a game between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images/File photo
The county courthouse in Salem, N.J., is seen Tuesday, April 15, 2025 before the appearance of Sean M. Higgins, the driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while they were bicycling. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Overview

  • Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, including NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, were struck and killed while cycling near their hometown in New Jersey on August 29, 2024, the night before their sister’s wedding.
  • Sean Higgins, the driver, faces multiple charges, including aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, evidence tampering, and leaving the scene of an accident.
  • On April 15, 2025, a judge rejected the defense's argument that the brothers' alleged intoxication contributed to the crash, citing New Jersey law that does not prohibit cycling while impaired.
  • Prosecutors argue that Higgins, who admitted to drinking heavily, was speeding and driving recklessly when he struck the brothers, who were cycling safely in single file along the road.
  • Higgins, a combat veteran and father of two, faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted on all charges, with the next court hearing scheduled for June 10.