Driver Accused of Killing Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Gaudreau Appears in Court

The New Jersey driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when striking NFL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau appeared in court for the first time on Friday, Aug. 30.

In footage shared by ABC affiliate WSYX and covered by multiple outlets including TMZ and Fox affiliate WTXF, Sean Higgins from Woodstown, New Jersey, appeared before a Salem County Court judge virtually as he was joined by a lawyer from the local public defender office.

During his appearance in court, Higgins, 43, was instructed on future proceedings by Judge Michael J. Silvanio, who informed him that his forthcoming detention hearing would take place on Thursday, Sept. 5, given the holiday weekend.

“So I’m here until Thursday,” Higgins asked toward the end of the appearance, before Silvanio clarified that he’s required to hold him over for a minimum of 72 hours before his hearing. Silvanio also informed Higgins that he was charged with two courts on second-degree vehicular homicide, both “punishable by a maximum of 10 years” in state prison.

Higgins also expressed his desire to hire his own attorney for future proceedings.

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, died in a biking accident close to their hometown on Thursday, Aug. 29, PEOPLE previously confirmed. They were in the area to appear as groomsmen at their sister’s wedding the following day.

In a statement about the incident, New Jersey State Police said, “Through further investigation, Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, charged with two counts of death by auto, and lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility. This crash remains an active investigation, and no additional information is available.”

They added that Higgins was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and SUV. They said that he then “attempted to pass the slower-moving sedan and SUV, entered the southbound lanes of travel, passed the slower-moving sedan, and attempted to re-enter the northbound lanes of travel when the SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes to safely pass the two pedal cyclist traveling north on the right side of the roadway.”

“Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two pedal cyclists in the rear. As a result of the collision, the two pedal cyclists sustained fatal injuries,” the police statement continued.

Johnny is survived by his wife, Meredith, and their two kids — daughter Noa, who turns 2 in October, and son Johnny, 7 months.

Matthew is survived by his wife of three years, Madeline, who is currently pregnant and expecting their first baby.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, who Johnny signed a seven-year contract with in 2022, called the deaths of Johnny and Matthew an “unimaginable tragedy” in a statement shared on Aug. 30.