New body camera footage shows arrest of driver accused of killing Gaudreau brothers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The events surrounding the death of former Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew are becoming clearer after New Jersey state police released reports and media from the crash.

According to a crash report from New Jersey State Police, accused drunk driver Sean Higgins hit the brothers while attempting to pass an uninvolved vehicle. The Gaudreau brothers suffered fatal injuries during the Aug. 29 crash.

Higgins, 43, said he was coming from Taco Bell and then his home, after which officers asked how many drinks he had. Higgins initially said he'd drank five or six beers from noon to around two hours prior, adding he had his most recent beer an hour before the crash. He said he was unharmed, but was "freaked out" after the crash.

Watch: Full body camera footage of Higgins' arrest

According to police reports, Higgins drove around 1,500 feet further down the road before stopping his car. In the body camera footage, officers conducted intoxication tests on Higgins, who said he was limping slightly due to a recent surgery. Higgins was arrested not long into the tests, and complied with officers as they handcuffed him.

Previously, investigators said his blood alcohol level tested at 0.087, above the legal limit of 0.08.

The body camera footage was from around 8:45 p.m., about half an hour after the crash, according to police reports. According to police reports, the Gaudreau brothers were pronounced dead on the scene at 8:37 p.m.

The delay in accessing the reports seemed to be in part due to a recently approved protective order assuring the anonymity of three women who were on the scene and called 911. In the 911 audio, the women can be heard reporting the incident to dispatchers with limited information, before they crossed the busy road to check on the brothers and the recording ended. At least one of the women was in the car Higgins passed before he struck the brothers.

According to police reports, Higgins was driving a dark 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The report said the car and the Gaudreaus' bicycles were taken as evidence by police.

The Gaudreaus were in southern New Jersey for their sister's wedding. Investigators said Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were riding their bikes north on County Route 551 in Oldamns Township. Higgins was driving on the same road, and allegedly tried to pass an SUV in front of him, which had moved to the middle of the roadway to safely pass the brothers. The driver or passenger of this SUV seems to be one of the women who called 911.

Higgins was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and remains in custody without bond. According to the crash reports, he also faced one citation each for consumption of alcohol, improver passing and unsafe lane change. He has also admitted to drinking while driving since his arrest.

On Nov. 12, a judge approved a 30-day extension request in the case so the prosecution can obtain additional discovery evidence. The deadline to file an indictment is currently Dec. 27, after which official charges could be filed if the two sides of the case cannot reach an agreement before that date.

Johnny Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey," signed with the Blue Jackets two seasons ago and led the team in points. He chose Columbus over larger contract offers because he wanted to raise his family in central Ohio and played 11 seasons with the NHL. Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey professionally before he became coach of Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey in 2022. The brothers have been mourned widely by family, friends and strangers alike.