Video: Driver in Fatal Crash Involving Johnny Gaudreau Held in Jail
Sean Higgins, charged with involuntary manslaughter following the crash that killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, appeared in court on Aug. 21. New evidence related to the case was presented to Judge Michael Silvanio on Friday.
Higgins, 44, is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, on Aug. 29, 2024. During the hearing, the court denied a motion from Higgins' attorneys to exclude data from his Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was collected during the investigation.
Authorities maintain that the evidence obtained from the vehicle, including data from its airbag control module, can be used in a future trial. Higgins' legal team argued that this data was gathered improperly, asserting that it could not capture events like collisions with cyclists.
The court also scheduled a separate hearing for Sept. 18 to address the admissibility of Higgins' statements to police, focusing on whether his Miranda rights were violated. Higgins previously rejected a plea deal that could have resulted in a 35-year sentence.
According to witnesses and police records, Higgins was driving aggressively moments before the crash in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. He struck the Gaudreau brothers while they were cycling, having reportedly been speeding and maneuvering dangerously around other vehicles. A blood test indicated Higgins had a blood-alcohol level of 0.087 after the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing.