A man charged with driving under the influence and causing the deaths of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother has been struggling to hide a confession he made following the tragic crash last year.
During a courtroom hearing in Salem County on Wednesday, Sean Higgins described how four responding officers had intense reactions throughout the night of the incident, which occurred on August 29, 2024.
New Jersey State Police Sergeant Kennence Flannegan detailed how he found Higgins agitated by his vehicle when he arrived at the crash site, where the Gaudreau brothers were cycling when the collision happened.
Higgins reportedly said, “I hit them. I hit them,” to Sergeant Flannegan, who advised him to stay at the scene as he proceeded to investigate further.
As the first responder, Flannegan stated that paramedics arrived shortly after and indicated that there were “no signs of life” from the brothers.
The court viewed several excerpts from police body camera footage, including a moment when Higgins asked officer Zachary Harding, “Is anyone dead over there?” He attempted to explain how the incident unfolded, saying he was trying to overtake a slower vehicle when he collided with the cyclists.
He shared, “As he passed, I passed [in] this lane. I hit the bikers,” indicating that he felt forced back into his original lane due to the maneuvering of the other car.
In another camera clip, Higgins lamented, “My life is over. Apparently I just hit someone… I hit a biker in the middle of the road in the dark.”
This statement came as he was having a blood sample taken at the hospital, where his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.087, just above New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08.
Officer Mark Aronaldo testified that he could detect the smell of alcohol on Higgins’ breath during their interaction. He had Higgins undergo a field sobriety test shortly after, which Higgins did not pass.
In a released body camera video from last year, Higgins acknowledged, “I know I’ve been drinking beer, but I haven’t had one in the last couple of hours,” right before attempting the sobriety test. He also mentioned having “five or six” drinks earlier.
The testimony from Wednesday’s proceedings was crucial for both the prosecution and the defense as they debated the admissibility of Higgins’ statements during the trial.
Higgins’ defense contended that he was not adequately informed about his Miranda rights while being questioned, asserting that police continued probing even after he requested legal representation.
On the other hand, the prosecution maintained that Higgins had been informed of and comprehended his rights at both the accident scene and later at the police station.
Higgins had turned down a plea deal that could have resulted in a 35-year prison sentence, opting instead to plead not guilty to charges including reckless vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter. If found guilty of all counts, he faces a potential sentence of up to 70 years behind bars.
Judge Michael Silvanio had previously dismissed Higgins’ attempts to exclude evidence collected from his vehicle during the investigation. He also rejected earlier requests to lessen or dismiss the charges based on claims that Higgins’ brother, who was more intoxicated at the time, contributed to the crash.
Both Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, had blood alcohol levels exceeding 0.129 on the night they were killed. They were in town for their sister’s wedding, which was set for the following day.
Higgins is alleged to have collided with the two brothers while they were cycling single file on the shoulder of a road in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, around 8:20 p.m. He reportedly attempted to pass two cars that had slowed down for the cyclists, claiming he was driving between 30 and 40 miles per hour when he struck them. He eventually stopped about a quarter-mile down the road, where police discovered him.
