New Jersey police have released dramatic body-cam footage from the nervous moments after the crash that claimed the lives of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew on August 29.
Sean Higgins, the 43-year-old alleged drunk drive facing up to two decades in prison over the tragedy, is seen undergoing field sobriety tests after admitting to drinking earlier in the day.
‘I’ve been drinking beers,’ Higgins told police before admitting to ‘five or six’ Miller Lites.
Ultimately, he’d claim he hadn’t ‘had one in like two hours.’
Prosecutors have accused Higgins of being legally drunk when his vehicle collided with the Gaudreau brothers as they were cycling along a country road in the Philadelphia suburbs. The father of two registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.087 – slightly above the New Jersey state limit of 0.08. Higgins faces up to 20 years in prison after being charged with two counts of second-degree death by auto.
The fatal crash happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, hours before Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding. The brothers, who played together at Boston College, have since been honored in Calgary and Columbus, where Johnny played professionally.
The footage, provided to Philadelphia’s ABC 6, shows Higgins struggling to follow instructions
A confused Higgins is seen asking ‘what happened?’ after being handcuffed on August 29
The crash happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, hours before Johnny, 31, (right) and Matthew, 29, (left) were to serve as groomsmen in their sister’s (center) wedding
The newly released police video, provided to Philadelphia’s ABC 6, includes footage of a handcuffed Higgins being read his Miranda rights before asking: ‘Is everybody OK back there? What happened?’
Although he remains cooperative with police, Higgins appears nervous in the video, admitting at several points that he is ‘freaked out.’
He also cautions officers about a recent knee surgery that could potentially impact his field sobriety tests.
‘Is it affecting you right now?’ one officer is heard asking.
‘I’m (inaudible) around,’ Higgins replied, apparently indicating he might be limping.
‘At any point, if you’re in pain, just let me know,’ the officer said.
Higgins struggles with some of the instructions and can be heard asking officers to repeat themselves.
A frustrated officer ultimately tells Higgins to ‘turn around and place your hands behind your back’ before handcuffing him.
Apparently confused, Higgins asked what happened, to which an officer tells him they will talk about that at the station.
Prosecutors have accused Higgins of being legally drunk when his vehicle collided with the Gaudreau brothers as they were cycling along a country road in the Philadelphia suburbs
Major Sean Higgins, 43, has been charged with two counts of death by auto after fatally mowing down NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew in New Jersey
Higgins is based in Woodstown, New Jersey, where he is believed to live with his wife and their two young daughters.
The father-of-two had served in the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Kosovo and was promoted to Major during a state leadership visit to the former Yugoslavian republic in 2019 when he credited his family for their support during his military career, DailyMail.com has learned.
He also served as the Regional Command-East Civil-Military Cooperation chief during the tour, though it is unclear if he is still currently enlisted in the US Army.
The army major is a field artillery officer assigned to the New Jersey Army National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, and works part-time as a traditional Drill Status Guardsman.
A New Jersey judge extended prosecutors’ window to seek an indictment last month as Higgins remains in jail.
His attorney Matthew Portella referred to Higgins as ‘a loving father of two daughters,’ who ‘made a horrible decision that night,’ as quoted by ABC 6.
New Jersey state troopers have described the accident as occurring after Higgins attempted to pass two slower vehicles on Country Route 551 in Oldmans Township in Salem County.
Higgins is accused of being intoxicated when he collided with Gaudreau and his brother
‘Based on a preliminary investigation, two pedalcyclists, John M. Gaudreau, a 31-year-old male from Carneys Point, N.J., and Matthew R. Gaudreau, a 29-year-old male from Pedricktown, N.J., were traveling north on County Route 551, close to the fog line of the roadway,’ the statement reads.
‘Sean M. Higgins, a 43-year-old male from Woodstown, N.J., was traveling north on CR 551 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and SUV. Higgins attempted to pass the slower-moving sedan and SUV, entered the southbound lanes of travel, passed the slower-moving sedan, and attempted to re-enter the northbound lanes of travel when the SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes to safely pass the two pedalcyclist traveling north on the right side of the roadway.’
The Flames welcomed the Columbus Blue Jackets in Calgary, where hockey quickly became an afterthought as both teams honored Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
A former teammate of Johnny’s, Columbus’ Sean Monahan, was seen weeping during a ceremonial puck drop before Tuesday’s game at the Scotiabank Saddledome, where players on both sides struggled to contain their emotions.
The brothers’ family was also on hand for the ceremony, where Johnny’s widow Meredith was seen holding one of their two children . She revealed in September that she’s pregnant with their third.
‘It’s been really nice,’ a tearful Meredith told Sportsnet prior to Tuesday’s game, which Calgary won, 3-0. ‘I really wanted everyone to see the kids. Everyone has just been so warm, it feels like you never left when you’re here for a couple days.’
‘Some of the best fans in the world are here in Calgary,’ the brothers’ father, Guy, told Sportsnet prior to the ’13 Forever’ tribute, which is a nod to Johnny’s jersey number.
Tuesday marked the second time in the last two weeks the two teams squared off, and the first meeting in Calgary, where the forward known as ‘ Johnny Hockey ‘ became a beloved star and teammate for the Flames.
