The alleged drunk driver who struck and killed Columbus Blue Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother in southern New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding appeared glassy-eyed in a new mugshot — as it was revealed that he allegedly told cops that he had “five or six drinks” before the deadly crash.
Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, was charged with two counts of death by auto in connection with the devastating crash that killed Gaudreau, 31, and his brother, Matthew, 29, Thursday evening.
The brothers were biking near the side of County Route 551 in Oldmans Township when they were hit around 8 p.m.
Higgins was traveling north in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and an SUV, the New Jersey State Police said.
He tried to pass the slower-moving cars by changing into the southbound lanes, the authorities said.
Higgins passed the sedan and tried to reenter the northbound lanes when the SUV in front of him moved into the middle of the roadway in order to safely pass the bicyclists on the right side of the road. He then tried to move past the SUV on the right, and struck the brothers from behind, troopers said.
Follow the NY Post’s coverage on NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s tragic death at 31:
- Johnny Gaudreau’s brother Matthew was a dad-to-be when the siblings were killed by alleged drunk driver
- Johnny Gaudreau’s wife honors NHL star with moving tribute after devastating alleged drunk driver crash: ‘Best years of my life’
- Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, brother struck and killed by car while riding bikes a day before sister’s wedding: ‘Unimaginable tragedy’
The trooper who arrived at the scene detected a “strong odor of alcohol” on his breath, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Post.
Higgins allegedly told the trooper that he had “five to six beers” before the fatal crash.
He also supposedly confessed that he believed the SUV was trying to block him from passing, and that his drinking exacerbated his impatience and reckless driving.
Higgins failed a field sobriety test, troopers said.
The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed the brothers’ shocking deaths in an official statement Friday morning.
The pair was supposed to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding to hockey player Devin Joyce on Friday.
Katie Gaudreau posted an excited photo of the wedding rehearsal on her Instagram story on Thursday.
The 1:45 p.m. celebration at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester City was canceled in the wake of the tragedy, a church official told TMZ.
Gaudreau, whose skills on the ice earned him the nickname “Johnny Hockey,” grew up in Oldmans Township and attended Boston College, where he won the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s highest individual honor.
Gaudreau was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2014, and was later a finalist for the Calder Trophy.
He stunned the hockey community when, in 2022, he left Calgary and turned down competitive offers from the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders in favor of a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Blue Jackets.
He appeared in the All-Star game seven times over the course of his career.
Last season, he appeared in 81 games and tallied 48 points for the Blue Jackets.
“Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice,” the team said Friday.
“He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could.
“The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him.”
The Calgary Flames also paid tribute to their former player.
“He came to Calgary as a young man and grew up here, not only as a superstar on the ice, but also a beloved member of our community,” they said in a statement.
Gaudreau leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and their two children, Noa, 1, and Johnny, 6 months.
Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey at Boston College. He signed with the New York Islanders’ minor league affiliate in 2017, and last played professionally in 2021.
He leaves behind his wife, Madeline. Online posts indicated the couple was expecting a baby in December.
In addition to their wives, children, and sister Katie, the brothers are also survived by their parents, Guy and Jane, and sister Kristen.
“Both Matty and Johnny were terrifically admired by all of us. Wonderful young guys, and they impressed a lot of us off ice,” former Boston College coach Jerry York said of the brothers.
“Everybody knows how gifted they were on ice, especially Johnny — an all-world type of Olympic player and college all-star. They left tremendous impressions on all of us. We’ll miss the hockey exploits they always had with us but more important how they were as young guys,” he added.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also paid tribute to the Gaudreaus.
“The news this morning on Johnny & Matthew Gaudreau is simply heartbreaking. Johnny was a New Jersey legend — so much so that when I went on a Canadian trade mission as Governor I was given a Flames Gaudreau jersey,” Christie wrote on X.
“He was NJ. Our heart goes out to the Gaudreau family. Simply awful.”
