The families of NHL players Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau are reeling after a judge ruled that their deaths were not contributable to their own drinking habits, despite the brothers having blood alcohol levels above the legal limit.
Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio dismissed arguments suggesting the cyclists’ intoxication contributed to their fatal crash with a drunken driver, Sean Higgins. Higgins is charged with manslaughter and vehicular homicide after he allegedly ran into the brothers while cycling at night.
Prosecutors argued that Higgins was impaired by road rage when he hit the cyclists, who were riding safely on the edge of the road without weaving into traffic. Four witnesses corroborated this account, testifying to Higgins’ reckless driving.
The Gaudreaus were on their way to a sister’s wedding in southern New Jersey when they died. Higgins claimed he had consumed about six beers while driving after receiving an upsetting phone call with his mother. He faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/44684963/judge-denies-throw-indictment-vs-driver-gaudreau-case