The alleged drunken driver accused of fatally mowing down NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother last year is fighting to keep his confessions to police the day of the crash withheld in court.
Sean Higgins was in a Salem County courtroom Wednesday when four police officers who responded to the 2024 August 29 accident, told how he had poured out his intuition to them that evening.
Sean Higgins does not want to plead guilty to the cops involved in the trial in which he is accused of drunkenly beating and killing NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. New Jersey State Police
New Jersey State Police Sgt. Kenenth Flanegan testified that he was on his way to the scene of the crash in which the Columbus Blue Jackets player and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were allegedly hit by Higgins while riding a bicycle, when the sergeant confronted Higgins from the car, who appeared to be “frantic.”
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“I hit them. I hit them,” Flanegan Higgins said.
The sergeant instructed Higgins to stay where he was while Flanagan went to the crash site, Flanagan testified.
Flanegan was the first responder on the scene, and EMS arrived “seconds” later and told the sergeant there were “no signs of life,” he testified.
Several clips from the cops’ body cameras were played in court, including one in which Higgins asked New Jersey State Police Trooper Zachary Harding, “Did anybody die over there?”
Higgins was heard explaining to Harding how the crash happened, also claiming he tried to pass a slow driver but the driver moved into the oncoming lane where he intended to pass. The accused killer said he was forced back into the original lane when he hit two cyclists.
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“I moved back because he was walking [in] this tape. I hit the bikers,” Higgins said.
In another video, Higgins could be heard saying: “My life is over. I must have just hit people. I don’t know what the hell I just hit. I hit cyclists in the middle of the road in the dark.”
Higgins made a statement to New Jersey State Police Officers Mark Allonardo and Adam Crespo after his blood-alcohol content was drawn at the hospital, allegedly at 0.087, just over the Garden State’s legal limit of 0.08.
The Gaudreau brothers were riding their bikes when Higgins allegedly hit and killed them in 2024. August 29 Katie Gaudreau/Facebook
Allonardo testified that at the scene, “While I was talking to him, I smelled an alcoholic beverage on the defendant’s breath.”
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Allonardo told the judge Higgins took a field sobriety test shortly afterward, which he failed.
In one body camera video released last year, Higgins admitted just before taking a field sobriety test: “I mean I’ve had a beer, but I haven’t had it in two hours.”
He also allegedly told cops he had “five or six drinks.”
Wednesday’s testimony was used by prosecutors and Higgins’ defense attorneys in their battle over whether Higgins’ statements should be allowed in court.
Higgins’ side argued that he was not properly read his Miranda rights because the police spoke to him that evening and that despite asking for a lawyer during the police station interview, the police continued to question him.
Higgins allegedly admitted to cops that he had five or six drinks that night. Brigitte Stelzer
Meanwhile, prosecutors counter that Higgins was informed of his rights both at the scene of the accident and at the police station, and indicated that he understood and agreed to speak, according to a Columbus Dispatch report.
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Higgins, who previously rejected a plea deal to 35 years in prison, has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter, aggravated manslaughter and related charges. He faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Judge Michael Silvanio had previously rejected Higgins’ bid to keep evidence from his Jeep out of court.
Earlier this year, Silvanio also rejected Higgins’ efforts to reduce or drop the charges against him, arguing that his brothers, who were more famous than him, contributed to the disaster.
The brothers were in town for their sister’s wedding, which was scheduled for the next day. Instagram / @mattygaudreau11
Both Matthew, 29, and Johnny, 31, had blood alcohol levels of 0.129 or higher – higher than Higgins’ own BAL. The day after they were killed, the brothers were in town for their sister’s wedding.
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Higgins is accused of hitting the siblings while they were riding their bikes on a single-lane road in Oldsmans Township, NJ, around 8:20 p.m.
It is suspected that he overtook two cars, which slowed down after watching the two cyclists. Higgins said the cars were traveling between 30 and 40 mph when he decided to pass and hit the brothers. He made it about a quarter of a mile down the road where he was found by the police.