The death of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau occurred on the evening of August 29, 2024, when the NHL star known as “Johnny Hockey” and his younger brother were struck and killed by a Jeep Grand Cherokee while riding bicycles on a rural New Jersey road. The driver, Sean M. Higgins, had been drinking and later admitted he grew impatient with traffic and tried to pass the brothers on the shoulder. He was indicted on aggravated manslaughter and reckless vehicular homicide charges, and as of mid-2026 he remains jailed awaiting trial after rejecting a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for 35 years.
What Happened on County Route 551
The collision happened at about 8:19 p.m. on County Route 551 in Oldmans Township, Salem County, New Jersey.1NBC Philadelphia. Recordings of Interview With Sean Higgins, Suspect in Crash That Killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were cycling northbound on the right side of the road. A line of vehicles was traveling behind them in the same direction, including Higgins’ Jeep.
According to investigators, an SUV ahead of Higgins moved toward the center of the road to safely pass the cyclists. Higgins instead sped up and veered onto the right shoulder to pass. He struck both brothers. Both died from their injuries.1NBC Philadelphia. Recordings of Interview With Sean Higgins, Suspect in Crash That Killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
A witness driving in front of Higgins told police he had been “driving aggressively” before the crash and described him speeding up and veering right as the vehicles ahead slowed and moved left for the cyclists.26abc Philadelphia. Statements by Suspect in Gaudreau Brothers Crash Admissible at Trial, Judge Rules Police found Higgins beside his damaged vehicle about a quarter mile from where the brothers were hit.
The brothers were in New Jersey for a family wedding. Their sister Katie was scheduled to marry Devin Joyce the following day, August 30, 2024, and Johnny and Matthew were to serve as groomsmen.3People. Katie Gaudreau Marries Devin Joyce Nearly One Year After Family Tragedy The ceremony was canceled and eventually rescheduled; Katie married Joyce on July 11, 2025.
The Driver and His Admissions
Sean M. Higgins, born November 11, 1980, lives in Woodstown, New Jersey.4NJ Courts. Higgins Motion to Suppress He worked part-time as a field artillery officer with the New Jersey Army National Guard and was employed at a rehabilitation facility, Gaudenzia, from which he was placed on leave after his arrest.56abc Philadelphia. Sean Higgins Charged in Gaudreau Brothers Crash
At the scene, Higgins told troopers he had “been drinking beers,” later specifying five or six beers starting around noon, plus two more consumed in his vehicle while driving.66abc Philadelphia. Gaudreau Brothers Crash BAC Levels Bodycam video captured him failing a field sobriety test. Blood drawn at a hospital returned a blood alcohol concentration of 0.087%, above New Jersey’s 0.08% legal limit.7ABC7 Chicago. Trial of Sean Higgins Will Proceed, Judge Denies Request to Dismiss Charges
His driving history included a 2005 DWI charge in North Carolina that was voluntarily dismissed and a 2001 speeding ticket also dismissed. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission records showed crashes in 2016 and 2021 and prior stops for unsafe driving.8NBC Philadelphia. Suspected Drunken Driver Indicted by Grand Jury in Deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
Charges, Indictment, and Possible Sentence
A judge ordered Higgins jailed until trial in November 2024, finding him a flight risk. The following month, a Salem County grand jury indicted him on six counts: two of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, two of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, one of second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and one of fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.9NJ.com. Defense Claims Alleged Killer Wasn’t Legally Drunk in Stunning Court Filing
Each aggravated manslaughter count alone carries a maximum of 30 years. If convicted on all counts, Higgins faces up to 70 years in prison.7ABC7 Chicago. Trial of Sean Higgins Will Proceed, Judge Denies Request to Dismiss Charges He pleaded not guilty on January 7, 2025.10NBC Philadelphia. Court Setback for Sean Higgins in Gaudreau Brothers Deadly Crash Case
Prosecutors offered a plea deal that would have resulted in a 35-year sentence. Higgins rejected it in January 2026. Defense attorneys later submitted a counter-offer whose terms have not been disclosed.11NJ.com. How a Few Vials of Blood Could Change Everything in Johnny Gaudreau Death Case
Where the Case Stands
Two defense challenges have shaped the pre-trial phase.
Higgins’ Statements to Police
The defense moved to suppress Higgins’ roadside statements, arguing he had not been properly advised of his Miranda rights before he admitted to drinking. In November 2025, Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio ruled the statements were lawfully obtained and admissible at trial.10NBC Philadelphia. Court Setback for Sean Higgins in Gaudreau Brothers Deadly Crash Case On January 15, 2026, Appellate Division Judge Morris G. Smith denied the defense’s interlocutory appeal, finding “sufficient justification” to disturb the lower court’s ruling had not been shown.12ABC7 New York. Judge Denies Appeal Effort in Gaudreau Brothers Crash Case
The Blood Alcohol Fight
In February 2026, defense attorneys moved to dismiss the indictment, arguing the 0.087% BAC presented to the grand jury came from blood plasma rather than whole blood. A defense expert said converting the plasma number to a whole-blood equivalent produced a 0.075% reading, below the 0.08% legal threshold.11NJ.com. How a Few Vials of Blood Could Change Everything in Johnny Gaudreau Death Case
Prosecutors said the blood was tested correctly and the 0.087% figure stood. They also argued BAC was only one piece of their case, pointing to witness accounts of reckless driving, Higgins’ own admissions about how much he had drunk, the failed field sobriety test, and his leaving the scene without stopping to help.13The New York Times Athletic. Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Charges in Gaudreau Brothers Case
On May 11, 2026, Judge Silvanio denied the motion, writing that “the evidence presented to the grand jury was adequate” and that prosecutors did not need to re-present the case. He noted the defense could still challenge the blood evidence and call expert testimony at trial.14NBC Philadelphia. Judge Denies Motion to Re-Present Evidence to Grand Jury in Gaudreau Case
No trial date has been set. Higgins remains in the Salem County Correctional Facility, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for June 16, 2026.15Fox 29 Philadelphia. Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Indictment Amid Disputes Over Sean Higgins Blood Alcohol Content
Civil Settlements
Separate from the criminal case, the brothers’ widows, Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau, filed wrongful death lawsuits against Higgins. Those suits were settled by February 2025, according to legal filings. The terms and dollar amounts were not publicly disclosed.16Law360. Gaudreau Brothers’ Widows Settle Civil Suits Over Fatal Crash
The Families Left Behind
Both Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau were pregnant when their husbands were killed. Madeline gave birth to a son, Tripp, four months after the crash. Meredith gave birth to a son, Carter, eight months after. Johnny and Meredith also had two older children, Noa and Johnny Jr.17Good Morning America. Gaudreau Brothers’ Widows Speak One Year After Deadly Crash
In a June 2025 essay in The Players’ Tribune, Meredith wrote of the shock of the loss: “To go from getting ready for a beautiful wedding all week with your sister, to being in a funeral home with Madeline trying to figure all these things out — it just hurt so much.”18The Players’ Tribune. Thank You for Being Perfect, John On Good Morning America in August 2025, Madeline said, “There’s no healing when you didn’t get a goodbye.”17Good Morning America. Gaudreau Brothers’ Widows Speak One Year After Deadly Crash
The widows launched the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation in March 2025 to support youth hockey programs, help hockey families facing tragedies, and assist families affected by drunk driving.19NHL.com. Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau on GMA Johnny was 31 and in his third season with the Columbus Blue Jackets after nine years with the Calgary Flames; Matthew, 29, was a former Boston College forward who had moved into coaching youth hockey after five professional seasons.20NHL.com. Johnny Gaudreau Dies at 31