Authorities in New Jersey have released audio tapes from the 911 calls made by witnesses in the frantic moments after a tragic hit-and-run that killed NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother this summer.
Investigators also released body camera footage Friday from the state troopers who responded to the scene in Oldmans Township back in late August.
The late NHL forward, 31, and his 29-year-old brother, Matthew, were bicycling on the evening of Aug. 29 when 44-year-old Sean Higgins, a suspected drunk driver, allegedly mowed them down on a rural road in Salem County after passing a vehicle that had moved over to make room for them.
“I just witnessed a hit and run of two people on bikes,” said one caller to 911, reports NJ.com, which filed records requests for the release of the audio and video tapes.
In the audio, callers contend with darkness, and initially have trouble finding the pair. Callers describe chaos as they attempt to locate the brothers.
“Is anybody hurt?” a dispatcher probes.
“Yes, they’re both on the ground,” the caller quickly responds.
Other callers to 911 are unable to provide information about the brothers’ physical conditions, again due to poor visibility.
”It’s dark we can’t see,” the caller says.
After police arrive on the scene, the body camera footage shows state troopers questioning Higgins.
Higgins is seen smoking a cigarette and appearing calm in the video. He tells police he was returning from a trip to Taco Bell.
“Where were you before Taco Bell?” the trooper inquires.
“At my house,” he responds.
Higgins later acknowledges he’d “been drinking beers, but I haven’t had one in like two hours. Since the accident probably an hour or so.”
Higgins tells police he was “freaked out” — as he struggles to complete field sobriety tests.
“You said it’s been about an hour since your last drink?” the trooper asks. Higgins says he’s consumed “like five or six” Miller Lites since “like noon today.”
After his arrest, Higgins asks the trooper, “Is everybody OK back there? I mean, what happened?”
“We’ll talk about that when we get to the station,” responds the trooper, then leads Higgins to a waiting patrol car.
Both Gaudreau brothers died at the scene. Their sister Katie postponed her wedding, which was scheduled for the following morning.
Higgins has been charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle
In September, Gaudreau relatives sought a court order to prevent the records’ release. The order was lifted in October.
Higgins, a major in the New Jersey Army National Guard, faces up to 10 years in prison.
He also worked for a substance abuse treatment network in Pennsylvania.
