Alleged drunk driver charged in Gaudreau brothers’ death now claims his rights were violated

The man accused of hitting and killing Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau while the brothers were bicycling in Salem County back in August 2024 made a court appearance Wednesday as his defense team seeks to suppress initial statements made to police after the crash. Sean Higgins and his attorneys argue that his Miranda rights were violated.

Four officers testified during the hours-long hearing that a ‘frantic’ Higgins admitted to hitting the two men shortly before his arrest, and he was later charged with two counts of reckless vehicular homicide and aggravated manslaughter. One of the officers, New Jersey State Police sergeant Kenenth Flanegan, testified that Higgins told him: ‘I hit them. I hit them’ at the scene.

In a clip from the cops’ bodycam footage, Higgins can also be heard saying statements like: ‘I passed back over because he was passing [in] this lane. I hit the bikers.’ In another trooper’s video, Higgins is seen saying’My life is over. I just hit people, apparently.’

Higgins claimed that he was getting impatient and attempted to pass a slow driver, but the driver moved into the oncoming traffic lane, forcing him back into the original lane, where he then hit the Gaudreaus.

Later on that tragic night, Higgins can be heard admitting to drinking before the crash, while one of the troopers testified that he smelled alcohol on Higgins’ breath at the scene of the crash.

“It had nothing to do with me drinking some beers today. That really wasn’t the problem,” he can be heard telling investigators after the crash. “Obviously, I had alcohol in my system.”

Police say Higgins had a blood-alcohol level of .087, which is above the state’s .08 legal limit, and he failed a field sobriety test.

In early 2025, Higgins and his legal team previously attempted to have his charges reduced or dropped on the grounds that the brothers, who were more inebriated than him, contributed to the accident. Matthew, 29, and Johnny, 31, both had blood alcohol levels of .129 or above, which registered higher than Higgins’ at the time of the accident.

This time, Higgins’ defense attorneys are arguing that he wasn’t properly read his Miranda rights as police addressed him, though prosecutors countered that Higgins was read his rights at the scene and later at the police station, and that he indicated he understood and agreed to speak.

In the end, Judge Michael Silvanio said that, because of the late hour, the Miranda hearing would be suspended until Nov. 10, 2025, when the court will hear closing arguments.

Higgins is charged with two counts each of reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, evidence tampering, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

If convicted on all counts, Higgins faces up to 70 years in prison. His attorneys have rejected a plea deal offering 35 years.