The drunk driver accused of killing Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother pleaded not guilty Tuesday to manslaughter charges after taking a plea deal in the case.
Sean Higgins, 44, was killed when Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were riding their bicycles when they were planning to attend his sister's wedding in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.8 A judicial official who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the incident on April 29th was dismissed. the next day.
Instead, Higgins has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges, including manslaughter and vehicular homicide, and could face more than 60 years in prison if convicted, the Fox affiliate reported. Reported by WSYX.
Prosecutors said Higgins admitted that after chugging six beers, he tried to pass a slower car and hit the two brothers, killing them at the scene.
The tragedy was compounded when the two were buried on September 9, and relatives revealed that Matthew Gaudreau's widow Madeline was pregnant with their first child at the time of his death.
Their son was born late last month.
Johnny Gaudreau and his wife Meredith had two young children.
Higgins was arrested after he failed a field sobriety test with a blood alcohol level of 0.87, just above the legal limit, and prosecutors said he leaked incriminating evidence before police showed up.
He was charged Dec. 11 with two counts of reckless vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated manslaughter, one count each of tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a crime.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were both stars on the ice for Boston University.
Johnny Gaudreau was so good at the game that he earned the nickname “Johnny Hockey,” winning the Hobey Baker Award while skating in school before joining the NHL's Calgary Flames, then Team USA, and I ended up skating for the Blue Jackets.
Matthew Gaudreau signed with the New York Islanders in 2017 and played for their minor league affiliate. He last played professional hockey in 2021.
His sister Katie Gaudreau, who had planned to get married the next day at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester, postponed the ceremony after the double tragedy.
