Newly released photos and diagrams from the tragic New Jersey accident that claimed the lives of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother have raised questions about the actions of the alleged drunk driver. The defense claims that the driver may not have been acting recklessly when he collided with the brothers.
The distressing images, which form part of a recent court filing, display the damaged bicycles of the brothers and the severely damaged front end of the driver Sean Higgins’ black SUV, along with diagrams illustrating the locations of the vehicles during the incident.
According to the defense, the new diagrams indicate that the crash occurred in a different area on the road than what was reported by the police.
Law enforcement had stated that the brothers were biking on the shoulder of the road at the time of the accident, while Higgins’ team contends they were actually in the roadway.
An expert for the defense highlighted in court documents that there isn’t definitive physical evidence pinpointing the exact site of impact on the road.
“The evidence suggests that the cyclists were in the northbound lane instead of on the narrow shoulder before the collision,” the expert stated. “Assuming they were on the shoulder seems illogical and unsupported by the evidence.”
The defense team also argued that the Gaudreau brothers were not using required bike lights and were riding in a poorly lit area.
“Even if we take the police report at face value, it’s still not clear that it establishes Higgins’ responsibility for the accident,” the defense expert noted.
Photos included show one brother’s Trek bike with a missing rear wheel and a completely bent front wheel, and another photo depicts a Cervelo triathlon bike with a broken saddle and a warped rear wheel.
Additionally, the damage to Higgins’ Jeep Grand Cherokee is evident in the images, which show a cracked windshield and a crumpled front end.
The images were made public as Higgins was set to appear in court regarding the charges that he fatally struck the Gaudreau brothers while allegedly intoxicated.
Included in the court papers filed on October 5 were requests from Higgins’ legal team for evidence used by prosecutors to reconstruct the crash, which they seek to counter with their own analysis.
Higgins, a 45-year-old veteran, is scheduled to face trial on January 5 for allegedly driving with a blood alcohol level of .087 when he struck the brothers, who were bicycling in Oldmans Township on August 29, 2024.
The legal limit for blood alcohol while driving stands at .08.
The Gaudreaus, both fathers, were reportedly returning from a wedding rehearsal dinner for their sister when Higgins is said to have collided with them after overtaking another vehicle.
