Jane Gaudreau, mother of the late NHL players Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, is sharing her feelings after the driver accused of their deaths pleaded not guilty. The driver, Sean M. Higgins, faced court on January 7.
Following Higgins’ plea, Jane expressed her emotions on Instagram, posting two quotes that resonated with her. One of the quotes she shared highlighted, “Sometimes life is hard. Some days are very rough, and sometimes you just have to cry before you can move forward … And that’s okay.”
During the court session, the Gaudreau family attended to hear the proceedings. Jane also shared another quote from musician Patrick Stump: “When you have a bad day — a really bad day — try and treat the world better than it treated you.”
Higgins, aged 44, is alleged to have been driving under the influence when he fatally struck the brothers as they rode their bicycles on August 29. Tragically, they were supposed to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding the next day.
Reports indicate that body camera footage showed Higgins expressing his distress after the accident. The New Jersey State Prosecutor’s Office has stated that he had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit at the time of the incident.
Higgins faces multiple charges, including reckless vehicular homicide, and is set to return to court on February 4. His defense team has claimed that the accident resulted from “a combination of uniquely unfortunate circumstances.”
As the hearing continues, the Gaudreau family continues to seek justice and healing from this tragic loss.
