Suspected drunk driver accused of killing NHL star is member of US Army in NJ

ABC Philadelpha ^ | September 1, 2024 | staff

[xxqqzz]

OLDMANS TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- The suspected drunk driver accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, in Salem County, New Jersey, remains behind bars on a slew of charges, including vehicular homicide.

Action News has learned that Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, is a field artillery officer assigned to the New Jersey Army National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters. He is a part-time traditional drill status guardsman and was not on duty at the time of the incident.

READ MORE: Johnny Gaudreau's widow pays tribute to him in social media posts: 'You were perfect'

The New Jersey Army National Guard could not comment on Higgins' service, but released this statement on the deadly crash: "We are profoundly saddened by this tragedy," said Col Yvonne L. Mays, Acting Adjutant General of New Jersey. "Our hearts go out to everyone affected, and we share in the grief of the Gaudreau family."

We've also learned that Higgins works for a rehab facility called Gaudenzia. On Saturday, the nonprofit organization identified Higgins as an employee but said that he had been immediately placed on leave following the deadly incident.

The fatal crash happened Thursday around 8:30 p.m. on Pennsville Auburn Road (County Route 551) near Stumpy Lane in Oldmans Township.

Police say Higgins was traveling north on Pennsville Auburn Road in a Jeep Grand Cherokee when he allegedly attempted to pass a slower-moving sedan and SUV.

[xxqqzz]

This has been posted before, but more recent article with more information. The accused is a major of artillery in the National Guard and works at a rehab facility. Presumably will get a less than honorable discharge. It was on a 2 lane rural road in sort of suburban Philadelphia and Wilmington. Accused can get 10 years on each vehicular homicide charge. Apparently, he was going really fast, passed one car, then thought the next car had moved to the center to keep him from passing when it was in fact passing the bicycles, so passed on the right. Probably hit the bicycles at 70+ mph. It seems like a particularly aggravated case of vehicular homicide, as it wasn't just a mistake maybe while drunk. He made the mistake of talking to the police. Admitted drinking 5 or 6 beers. Said he was irritated at the car keeping him from passing. They said he failed the sobriety test, but didn't say alcohol numbers.

[DesertRhino]

Tragic. But this was caused by two grown men riding children’s toys on the highway at 8:30 at night. CarsCars piled up behind them and then a C frustrated driver tries to get around.

Bicycles have no place on highways. At least we shouldn’t treat the guy as a depraved monster. He has a big part in it, but he wasn’t the sole cause.

[DesertRhino]

Tragic. But this was caused by two grown men riding children’s toys on the highway at 8:30 at night. CarsCars piled up behind them and then a C frustrated driver tries to get around.

Bicycles have no place on highways. At least we shouldn’t treat the guy as a depraved monster. He has a big part in it, but he wasn’t the sole cause.

[Alberta's Child]

He didn’t make a mistake in talking to the police. He laid the foundation for a defense in a criminal trial by making this a DUI case.

This should not be prosecuted as a DUI case. A DUI case involves an impaired driver who loses control of his vehicle. The perp here is a pathological @sshole who deliberately made a reckless and illegal move on the road — which he probably would have done even he was totally sober — that cost two people their lives.

[FLNittany]

Yeah - Not sure what the BAC will come back as, but between blotto and passed out, you should still notice bicycles - if you’re able to avoid trees and poles (which I wish he had hit).

They’re on all the “I am not a robot” boxes to check afterall.

[Alberta's Child]

Bicycles have no place on highways.

I would agree with you from a practical standpoint, but the law says the exact opposite.

And this @sshole proceeded to mow down two cyclists while passing at least one other vehicle on the right shoulder of the road.

[ansel12]

Confusing article, is the guy in the Army or in the National Guard or is he in the Army and attached to the National guard?

[DesertRhino]

From his perspective, in low light if not already dark. He sees a show moving car and passes it. Then he sees the car that was in front of them in the middle of the road, straddling the center line. Makes a mistake and thinks it’s a Karen making everyone else drive their speed. So he tried to get strong them on the right… never seeing the bikes until the last second. He’s not an A-hole, and he told the truth to the cops.
It’s just a tragedy that could have just as easily happened sober.

No need to send the venom on him. And two grown men riding bikes on a a highway at night or dusk have to largely shoulder the blame.

[stratboy]

The driver was drunk and you’re a dumbass for making excuses for him.

Should people not be allowed to walk on the side of the road? How about stepping on the road to get their mail? They were doing nothing wrong but trying to exercise. And yes, they do have to be on the road.

You must have experienced a few delays with cyclists in your past. Those extra seconds lost must have been a heavy burden. Perhaps they held you up from getting home a minute earlier so that you could catch a re-run on TV or access your porn stash before your mom got home.

[mfish13]

Bicycles are considered vehicles and should be treated as such. Your way of thinking gets people killed.

[dfwgator]

That said, we do a terrible job of accomodating cyclists in this country. The pitiful attempts to try to accomodate them end up being counter-productive. But it looks good on a politician’s resume.

[citizen]

If the bicyclers were riding side-by-side and thus blocking the entire lane, they were asking for it. Riding single file at the edge of the road usually allows for traffic to pass safely. with minimal delay.

Either way, though, bicycling on a roadway sans a bike lane is always dangerous.

I catch heck for saying this but I always rode at the roadway edge against the traffic unless there was no way to pull off, such as an adjacent wall or an immediate ditch.

[Deo volente]

Out here in L.A. some months ago a young entitled idiot was doing 100+ mph with his daddy’s car and mowed down four young college women who were simply walking home. He’s being charged with murder at least, but we’ll see what happens. He lives in a $13 million mansion.

This army guy seems like a very angry man. At the same time, riding a bike on a highway is very risky. No excuse though for running them down.

[xxqqzz]

It is difficult for bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians with our auto oriented roads. However, it does seem really dangerous to bicycle at 8:30 PM on a rural 2-lane highway, particularly as they weren’t really going anywhere. There are bicycle paths, suburban roads with 25 mph speed limits and low traffic, etc.

[Cen-Tejas]

Agree. I can’t count the times I’ve almost hit a bicycle rider in the dark riding in a high speed traffic lane.

The major is still likely to pay a big price for his on scene disregard of his own rights. I predict 5 years each and maybe consecutively.

[Fireone]

A DUI case?
DUI is just one of the charges in the case. Criminal Vehicular Homicide should also be a component, along with whatever other charges they pile on top.
Charging DUI doesn’t negate, or lessen, the other criminal charges.

[alternatives?]

The bicyclists have a right to be on the highway but that doesn’t mean they should exercise that right. There are a lot of subdivisions they can relatively safely ride at night as opposed to the highway.

Bicyclists go slower uphill where cars can’t pass, then go much faster downhill. After the driver finally get by them, many bicyclists pass them on the right at stop lights. It would be nice if bicyclists would pull off the road when cars pile up behind them, but they rarely do so.

[PGR88]

But this was caused by two grown men riding children’s toys on the highway at 8:30 at night.

If the two were on motorcycles, they would likely also have been killed. Also Children's toys?

Or a small two-door sedan? Children toys? Probably also killed

Maybe Govt should mandate everyone drive a Ford F350. That would make us safe.

OR, this D-bag could exhibit some self-control, take some responsibility, not get drunk, and not drive like an a$$***e

[Alberta's Child]

The reports I've seen indicate that the perp mowed down the cyclists at a speed of 70+ miles per hour.

Makes a mistake and thinks it’s a Karen making everyone else drive their speed.

Let's assume he was correct about this. Do you honestly think it is acceptable to drive at a high rate of speed past said Karen on the right shoulder to get around her??

This wasn't an accident. It was an accident waiting to happen.

[webheart]

He’s an ahole. What’s the hurry? Was he on his way to the hospital or an emergency of some sort? People drive like they act on social media. I should say people act on social media like they drive. They get in the metal-plastic-class container and they become extremely selfish in anonymity. It’s all about them and their convenience and getting to where they are going as quickly as possible. Anything that interferes is the enemy.

I have to say I don’t act that way as a driver. I am an ahole on social media but not on the road. I will sit through a green light behind someone who is looking at their phone rather than honk my horn at them. I was behind a car that had stopped near a corner in the traffic lane, no signal or stop sign, and it was the guy behind me that honked. I saw a woman throw her two drink cups with drinks and ice in them at another car who had honked at her.

Why does it matter how long it takes to get somewhere? This is your life. You will live it sitting still as much as you will while driving fast. Actually even better because you don’t have to stress about avoiding hazards and watching out for cops other drivers. The faster you go the more potential danger you will face. Obviously going zero miles per hour is the safest and going 150 is very dangerous but every speed in between has a danger level corresponding to the speed. Relax! Slow down! Breathe!