A New Jersey man accused of driving recklessly and killing NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, is headed for trial.
Sean Higgins turned down an offer to plead guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and one count of first-offense DUI during an Oct. 19 hearing, according to Court TV. The proposed agreement called for a 28-year prison sentence and marked the second plea deal Higgins has rejected, the Associated Press reported.
An attorney for Higgins told Oxygen in a statement, “We remain committed to protecting Mr. Higgins’ constitutional rights, including his right to a fair trial, and will have no further comment at this time.”
According to an appellate response brief reviewed by Oxygen, Higgins was allegedly driving erratically on a rural road in Oldmans Township on Aug. 29, 2024, as the Gaudreau brothers rode bicycles near the roadside. The brief said Higgins passed one vehicle on the left, then moved back to the right and struck both men before leaving the scene.
The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said Higgins called 911 after his vehicle broke down about a quarter-mile from the crash. He also allegedly called a friend and said, “I’m done. I might as well just f—king kill myself now.”
When officers arrived, Higgins allegedly admitted that he had hit the brothers. He said he swerved only because a vehicle he was attempting to pass moved into his lane.
Higgins failed several field sobriety tests. As police arrested him, he allegedly asked, “What happened back there, is everybody okay?”
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He allegedly told investigators that he had consumed five or six beers after work, followed by two more while driving around. Prosecutors said Higgins then attempted to conceal the beer cans after the crash.
According to the brief, Higgins told police, “I get impatient, I had beer in my system, now my life is ruined. That’s literally what it was all about. My impatience and reckless driving.”
Higgins’ wife told police that he drank frequently and suggested the crash may have resulted from his “road rage and impatience,” the brief said. In a recorded jail call, she allegedly reprimanded him, saying, “You’re an idiot. I told you before not to do that stuff, and you don’t listen to me.”
Higgins was indicted on six charges: two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He pleaded not guilty in 2025.
In a motion seeking dismissal of the indictment, Higgins’ lawyers argued that the brothers were riding on a dark road without reflective equipment or helmets and had elevated blood alcohol levels. Prosecutors countered that the brothers’ toxicology results were not relevant to the cause of their deaths.
Higgins’ trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 4, 2027. If he is convicted on every charge, he could face a maximum sentence of 91.5 years, the Post reported.
Johnny, 31, was a left wing for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Seven months after his death, his wife, Meredith Gaudreau, gave birth to their third child, a son. After Team USA defeated Team Canada for the gold medal at the 2026 Olympics, several players brought his daughter, Noa, then 3, and son, Johnny Jr., then 2, onto the ice to celebrate. The team carried Johnny’s No. 13 jersey around the rink while his parents and Meredith watched from the stands.
Matthew, 29, retired from the AHL after the 2022 season and went on to coach high school hockey. His wife, Madeline Gaudreau, gave birth to their first child four months after the crash.