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Driver accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother will spend at least another week in jail
nj.com ^ | september 5, 2024 | Matt Grey

Posted on 09/05/2024 3:10:35 PM PDT by 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.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: hockey; manslaughter
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.

1 posted on 09/05/2024 3:10:35 PM PDT by xxqqzz
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To: xxqqzz

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

The injustice of it all.


2 posted on 09/05/2024 3:36:20 PM PDT by DarrellZero
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To: xxqqzz

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.


3 posted on 09/05/2024 3:38:08 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (“Ain't it funny how the night moves … when you just don't seem to have as much to lose.”)
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To: xxqqzz

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


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.


4 posted on 09/05/2024 3:39:12 PM PDT by hanamizu ( )
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To: xxqqzz

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.


5 posted on 09/05/2024 3:42:37 PM PDT by cicero2k
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To: cicero2k
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.

6 posted on 09/05/2024 3:57:38 PM PDT by KevinB (Word for the day: "kakistocracy" - a society governed by its least suitable or competent thicitizens)
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To: xxqqzz

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.


7 posted on 09/05/2024 3:58:10 PM PDT by GaltAdonis
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To: DarrellZero

He may get pucked up beyond all recognition.


8 posted on 09/05/2024 4:29:20 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: GaltAdonis

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


9 posted on 09/05/2024 4:48:49 PM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING AMERICA, AND HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM!)
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To: cowboyusa

You are probably correct.


10 posted on 09/05/2024 5:04:17 PM PDT by GaltAdonis
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To: KevinB

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.


11 posted on 09/05/2024 5:28:56 PM PDT by xxqqzz
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To: Alberta's Child

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.


12 posted on 09/05/2024 6:17:44 PM PDT by xxqqzz
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To: xxqqzz
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.

13 posted on 09/05/2024 6:50:59 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: xxqqzz

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.


14 posted on 09/06/2024 3:20:05 AM PDT by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! )
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