A suspected drunk driver struck and killed Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, while they were bicycling in New Jersey on Thursday evening.
The crash, which occurred on a rural road in Oldsman Township, Salem County—approximately 30 miles south of Philadelphia—claimed the lives of Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, according to information from the New Jersey State Police.
Sean Higgins, a 43-year-old resident of Woodstown, New Jersey, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. He is currently being held at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
Court records reveal that Higgins admitted to consuming five to six beers before and during his drive leading up to the crash.
During a preliminary court hearing on Friday, Higgins’ arraignment was postponed until next Thursday. He will remain in the Salem County jail until then and has been instructed not to discuss the case with anyone except his attorney.
Court records show that Higgins admitted to drinking five to six beers before and during his drive leading up to the crash.
During his preliminary court hearing on Friday, Higgins’ arraignment was postponed to next Thursday. He will remain in the Salem County jail until then and has been ordered not to discuss the case with anyone except his attorney.
A post on a popular wedding site revealed that Gaudreau and his brother were set to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding in Philadelphia on Friday. Gaudreau, who had two young children—a daughter named Noa and a son named Johnny—with his wife Meredith, was based in Columbus where his children were born.
Related Topic: Blue Jackets’ Johnny Gaudreau and his brother tragically killed in a suspected drunk driving crash in New Jersey
How did Johnny Gaudreau die?
According to the New Jersey State Police, Higgins was driving northbound on County Road 551 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, following a sedan and an SUV, at approximately 8:19 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Higgins moved into the southbound lanes to overtake the slower-moving sedan and SUV. He attempted to return to the northbound lanes when the SUV in front of him shifted to the center of the road to safely pass the Gaudreau brothers, who were traveling north on the right side. Higgins then tried to pass the SUV on the right and collided with the Gaudreaus from behind, according to the incident report.
The suspect told police he had 5-6 beers before the crash, including while driving
According to the criminal complaint against Higgins, he was still at the scene when law enforcement arrived.
Investigators detected the smell of alcohol on him, and Higgins admitted to drinking five to six beers before and during his drive. He also failed a field sobriety test.
Who is Johnny Gaudreau?
Gaudreau, 31, was the Blue Jackets’ leading forward after joining the team in July 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames.
After two disappointing seasons, Gaudreau aimed for a strong rebound this summer, fueled by his offseason training. He played for Team USA at the men’s world championships in Czechia in May, where he stood out with three goals, eight assists, and 11 points in eight games. Gaudreau finished third on his team in scoring and tied for fourth in the tournament overall.
Last season, he led the Blue Jackets with 12 goals and 48 assists for 60 points in 81 games. This marked his second consecutive year as the team’s top scorer, though it represented a 14-point decline from his first season in Columbus (2022-23) and a 55-point drop from his final season in Calgary. His surprising decision to join the Blue Jackets in July 2022 came with a seven-year, $68.25 million contract.
