Accused driver concedes he was over legal alcohol limit in Gaudreau crash

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 20 Oct, 03:07 · Archive

The lawyer for Sean Higgins, accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother in New Jersey, acknowledged Monday that Higgins' blood-alcohol content was .08, over the legal limit.

Sean Higgins, accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in a New Jersey crash in summer 2024, was over the legal alcohol limit at the time, his own defence acknowledged Monday. Higgins' lawyer conceded the driver's blood-alcohol content was .08, above the .08 legal limit, contradicting earlier claims it was .075. The defence suggested its own test yielded a lower result than the prosecution's assertion of .087.

New photographs and schematics from the crash scene emerged in court filings Monday. The defence used these to argue that evidence does not support reckless driving charges. Police say the brothers were on the road's shoulder when hit; the defence argues they were in the travel lane. The photographs show mangled bicycles and damage to Higgins' black SUV. A defence expert stated there is no precise physical evidence defining where impact occurred, and argued the location of physical evidence indicates the cyclists were in the northbound travel lane, not on the shoulder.

Despite the concession about the alcohol limit, Higgins rejected a prosecution plea deal offering 28 years in prison in exchange for guilty pleas to aggravated manslaughter and first-degree DWI. Judge Michael Silvanio warned that if Higgins is convicted at trial on current charges including reckless vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter, he faces a maximum of 91.5 years and would not be eligible for parole until he had served 68 years. The trial is set to begin 4 January.

How it is being reported

• Harrowing new photos emerge of crash that killed hockey star Johnny Gaudreau... as evidence 'casts doubt on case against alleged drunk driver'New images surfaced on Monday showing the aftermath of the New Jersey crash that killed NHL superstar Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in the summer of 2024.Daily Mail Sport · 20 Oct, 02:58
• NJ driver accused of killing hockey star Johnny Gaudreau, bro makes stunning concessionLawyers for the alleged boozed-up New Jersey driver who killed NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother shockingly conceded Monday that their client was in fact over the legal alcohol limit at the time. But even with the admission, defendant Sean Higgins, 45, balked in court at a plea deal that would have cut his...New York Post · 19 Oct, 22:44
• Chilling new photos, maps of NJ crash that killed hockey star Johnny Gaudreau, his brother emerge — and it could be a problem for the prosecutionThe grisly snapshots — part of a recent court filing — show the tragic pair’s mangled bikes and the crushed front of driver Sean Higgins’ black SUVNew York Post · 19 Oct, 20:22

In this story: Johnny Gaudreau · Matthew Gaudreau · Sean Higgins · New Jersey · Richard Klineburger · Michael Silvanio

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