Driver accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother will spend at least another week in jail

nj.com ^ | september 5, 2024 | Matt Grey

[xxqqzz]

A hearing for the motorist accused of killing hockey star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother that was scheduled for Thursday morning has been rescheduled for next week.

Sean M. Higgins, 43, of Pilesgrove Township — who was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the Salem County crash — is charged with two counts of second-degree death by auto in the crash that killed Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew R. Gaudreau, 29.

The brothers were riding bikes north on Route 551/Pennsville-Auburn Road in Oldmans Township when they were hit on the evening of Aug. 29.

Higgins appeared via video for his detention hearing on Thursday morning, but both the prosecution and defense sought additional time to file exhibits and legal briefs, Superior Court Judge Michael J. Silvanio said during the brief session.

The hearing was rescheduled for Friday, Sept. 13.

Higgins has been jailed since his arrest last week and the detention hearing will determine whether he remains in jail until trial or is released while his case proceeds.

Sean M. Higgins appeared in court via video for a hearing Thursday morning. He's charged with two counts of death by auto in the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.(N.J. Court)

While he was represented by the public defender at his first court appearance last week, Higgins has since hired private attorneys Richard Klineburger and Matthew Portella to represent him.

When asked for a comment about the case earlier this week, the attorneys declined via an emailed statement.

“This is a tragedy involving a great deal of emotion and impacting many individuals,” they said. “It is too early in the stages of the legal process to make any out of court statements.”

[xxqqzz]

Perp will spend at least 2 weeks in jail total. He has hired private lawyers, so apparently has some funds. He works in a substance abuse rehab center, which makes you wonder if he had had those problems. He is a major of artillery in the National Guard, which is a little man bites dog. The county has about 60,000 people and the township about 2,000. That may partly be why they were biking on the rural highway. There may not have been much suburban streets.

Should say "and brother" rather than ", brother" in headline.

[DarrellZero]

Oh no, a whole nother week just for running over and killing two people?

The injustice of it all.

[Alberta's Child]

Tragic story, but this case would have been pled down to a misdemeanor by now if the victims were just two ordinary people instead of prominent athletes.

[hanamizu]

“...they were biking on the rural highway. There may not have been much suburban streets.”

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I live on a rural ‘county road’. It’s narrow, no shoulders and lots of hills and twisty curves. People routinely go faster than the 35 mph limit, every now and then a car will find itself in the ditch. Occasionally I’ll see a bike or two and hope the best for them.

[cicero2k]

Street view on Google Maps: no bike lane, no shoulder just grass, no street lights. Accident happened an hour after sun down. Avoiding risk helps.

[KevinB]

Drunk driver tried to pass a slower driver on the left. While doing so, the slower driver moved to the center of the road to give room to the cyclists on the right. Drunk driver, not realizing that the slower driver was simply giving room to cyclists, thinks the slower driver is moving to the middle of the road to keep him from passing, gets pissed off at slower driver and passes slower driver on the right, thereby mowing down the cyclists.

I agree that cycling on the roads is risky. I used to do it quite a bit, but stopped due to risk. That said, this accident was due to a drunken asshole, not the routine risks that cyclists take.

[GaltAdonis]

Anybody remember Pele Lindbergh?

I remember riding the school bus past what was left of his car back in 1985.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads16/Pelle+Lindbergh+red+9301267480484.jpg

It used be a Porsche.

[lightman]

He may get pucked up beyond all recognition.

[cowboyusa]

Yes, the Flyers would have won 2 Stanley Cups, if someone had taken away his car keys.

[GaltAdonis]

You are probably correct.

[xxqqzz]

Yes, definitely drunken asshole passing on the right someone passing bicycles. I see drivers almost like that often. Also, extremely dangerous biking at night on an unlit road like that.

[xxqqzz]

He obviously has money for bail, and likely would be out on bail by now if the victims weren’t famous. He would probably be in deep trouble anyway though killing 2 people in a drunk and reckless driving accident. In some states, they charge it as murder for a drunk driving accident, if driving the wrong way on an interstate, racing on residential streets, etc.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Rural highways are often two lane streets lined with houses not eight lane expressways where you go seventy miles an hour.

Which is why you will often see people riding bikes along them.

Which is quite legal.

But the road raging drunk who was driving both recklessly and WAY over the speed limit was going to show the guy who had the audacity to follow the law by passing on the right. Also against the law.

[airborne]

Such a heartbreaking story.

Matthew’s wife was pregnant with their first child.

They were in town for their sister’s wedding.

Can’t imagine what the family is going through.