The driver who fatally struck NHL player Johnny Gaudreau is facing charges

The driver who, being drunk at the wheel, fatally hit National Hockey League (NHL) forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, has been charged. NBC Sports Philadelphia reported on December 12.

"On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, a grand jury indicted 43-year-old Sean Higgins of Woodstown, New Jersey, on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree reckless driving, first-degree manslaughter, fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in the second degree," the TV station quotes the court's opinion.

Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were reportedly riding bicycles while Higgins, in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, attempted to overtake two vehicles in front of him and drove into the oncoming lane.

The SUV in front of Higgins pulled into the middle of the road, splitting the north and southbound lanes to safely avoid the Gaudreau brothers, who were traveling on the right side of the road. Police say the defendant attempted to overtake the SUV and hit the brothers. Both young men died from their injuries.

Johnny Gaudreau was killed in a traffic accident on August 30 at the age of 31 in Seillem County, New Jersey. The hockey player was born in 1993 in the state of New Jersey. He played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints club and Boston College. In 2014, he began his career in the NHL. In two seasons, Gaudreau played in 161 games and scored 134 points. The forward has also been selected to the NHL All-Star Matches seven times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).