Alleged drunk driver who killed NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, his brother appears glassy-eyed in new mugshot

The alleged drunk driver who struck and killed Columbus Blue Jackets player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother in New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding appeared glassy-eyed in a new mugshot.

Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, was charged with two counts of death by auto in connection with the devastating crash that killed Gaudreau , 31, and his brother, Matthew, 29, Thursday evening.

The brothers were biking near the side of County Route 551 in Oldmans Township when they were hit around 8 p.m.

Higgins was traveling north in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and an SUV, the New Jersey State Police said.

He tried to pass the slower-moving cars by changing into the southbound lanes, the authorities said.

Higgins passed the sedan and tried to reenter the northbound lanes when the SUV in front of him moved into the middle of the roadway in order to safely pass the bicyclists on the right side of the road. He then tried to move past the SUV on the right, and struck the brothers from behind, troopers said.

Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, brother struck and killed by car while riding bikes a day before sister’s wedding: ‘Unimaginable tragedy’

The trooper who arrived at the scene detected a “strong odor of alcohol” on his breath, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Post.

Higgins allegedly told the trooper that he had “five to six beers” before the fatal crash.

He also supposedly confessed that he believed the SUV was trying to block him from passing, and that his drinking exacerbated his impatience and reckless driving.

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Higgins failed a field sobriety test, troopers said.

The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed the brothers’ shocking deaths in an official statement Friday morning.

The pair was supposed to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding to hockey player Devin Joyce on Friday.

Katie Gaudreau posted an excited photo of the wedding rehearsal on her Instagram story on Thursday.

The 1:45 p.m. celebration at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester City was canceled in the wake of the tragedy, a church official told TMZ .

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Gaudreau grew up in Oldmans Township and attended Boston College, where he won the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s highest individual honor.

He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2014, and was later a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

He appeared in the All-Star game seven times over the course of his career.

Last season, he appeared in 81 games and tallied 48 points for the Blue Jackets.

He leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and their two children, Noa, 1, and Johnny, 6 months.

Matthew Gaudreau also played hockey at Boston College. He signed with the New York Islanders’ minor league affiliate in 2017, and last played professionally in 2021.

He leaves behind his wife, Madeline. Online posts indicated the couple was expecting a baby in December.

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