Judge Denies Motion to Send Evidence Back to Grand Jury in Gaudreau Brothers' Case
The judge overseeing the criminal case involving the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau denied a motion to send evidence back to a grand jury. Sean Higgins, the accused, had his defense argue that the blood alcohol evidence was collected improperly, but the judge ruled against sending it back to the grand jury. The trial will proceed as scheduled.
The tragic incident occurred when the Gaudreau brothers were riding their bikes on County Route 551 in Oldmans Township. They were struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Sean Higgins. Higgins attempted to pass vehicles ahead of him and entered the southbound lanes, ultimately colliding with the Gaudreau brothers as they rode on the right side of the road.
According to court documents, Higgins tried to pass an SUV on the left shoulder after it moved to the middle of the roadway to pass the brothers safely. Higgins admitted to thinking the vehicle ahead of him was moving too slowly, leading to the fatal crash that claimed the lives of both brothers.
At the scene, a trooper noted that Higgins smelled of alcohol and allegedly confessed to consuming five to six beers before the crash. Despite being employed at a drug and alcohol treatment center, Higgins reportedly failed a sobriety test. He now faces charges of aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, and other offenses related to the incident.
As the case unfolds, more details may emerge. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.