Driver in crash that killed Johnny, Matthew Gaudreau had blood alcohol level of .087
The man accused of hitting and killing Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, will continue be held in jail after a Friday hearing in a New Jersey court.
Sean M. Higgins, 43, has been held in custody since his arrest after the Aug. 29 fatal crash in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Higgins is facing two counts of death by auto as well as several traffic charges for the crash.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his 29-year-old brother, Matthew, had been bicycling home on the eve of their sister's wedding, where both brothers were to be groomsmen. Both brothers died at the crash site from their injuries.
New evidence in the case against Higgins was provided to Judge Michael Silvanio on Friday, including that Higgins' blood alcohol level, which was obtained through a blood draw, was .087, over the legal limit of .08.
Silvanio said he had "significant concerns" about Higgins being released, based on Higgins own alleged admissions to New Jersey law enforcement about having impatience while driving and saying he did not see the Gaudreaus before striking them.
Higgins told police he had consumed "five to six" beers both before and while he was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee. New Jersey State Police said Higgins passed a vehicle on the left and when he attempted to get back into his lane of travel, he then passed a vehicle on the right. That vehicle had moved to the left to make room for the Gaudreau brothers, who were cycling on the right shoulder.
Court records say Higgins admitted to passing the vehicle on the right and said his alcohol consumption played a role in his impatience and aggressiveness while driving.
Higgins last appeared in court on Sept. 6, at which time Judge Michael Silvanio continued a pretrial detention hearing until Friday. New Jersey does not use a cash bail system like what is used in Ohio.
Higgins does not have any previous criminal convictions; however, he had been arrested in 2005 on suspicion of driving under the influence in North Carolina. That charge appears to have been dismissed because of the responding officer not appearing for the court date, according to court records.
The Gaudreau brothers were laid to rest in an emotional double funeral Monday in Pennsylvania.
Matthew Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Madeline, who is pregnant with the couple's first child, a son they intend to name Tripp. He had played collegiate hockey at Boston College and professionally in the minor leagues before becoming the coach at Gloucester Catholic High School.
Johnny Gaudreau, who had played for the Columbus Blue Jackets for two seasons after playing for eight in Calgary, is survived by his wife, Meredith, daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny. During her eulogy Monday, Meredith announced she is pregnant with the couple's third child, a "total surprise" she said her husband had been ecstatic about.
The brothers are also survived by their parents, Guy and Jane Gaudreau, and their sisters, Katie and Kristen, along with an extended family of in-laws and nieces, as well as their teammates and friends.
Following their deaths, the hockey community has rallied around the Gaudreau family and the teammates Johnny Gaudreau left behind. An online fundraiser for Madeline and Tripp has raised more than $750,000.
Vigils for the brothers were held in Columbus and Calgary on Sept. 4.
The Gaudreau family has said donations in the brothers' honor can be sent to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, c/o Lewis Gross, Sports Professional Management, 560 Sylvan Ave., Suite 3070, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sean Higgins, driver in Johnny Gaudreau crash, to be held in New Jersey jail
