Trial for alleged drunk driver in New Jersey crash that killed Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau postponed

As he tried to return to the northbound lane, the driver of the second SUV pulled into the center of the highway to “safely pass two cyclists traveling north on the right side of the roadway,” police said.

“Higgins attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck two cyclists (from behind),” police said. “As a result of the collision, both cyclists sustained fatal injuries.”

Higgins remained at the scene and was charged with two counts of road traffic death, as well as dangerous driving, possession of an open alcohol container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, Higgins told a responding officer he had five or six beers before the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving. He failed a field sobriety test, the complaint said. His blood-alcohol level was not given.

The Associated Press also reported that the Gaudreau brothers were in the area for their sister’s wedding in Philadelphia on Aug. 30. The brothers were from Carneys Point, New Jersey.

Their sister, Katie, took to Instagram on Monday to share an emotional tribute to her siblings, who both played college hockey at Boston College, calling them “the absolute best big brothers a little girl could ask for.”

Johnny Gaudreau, the Calgary Flames forward who scored points immediately after arriving at BC in the spring of 2014 and was a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets the past two seasons, was 31. He played for BC from 2011-14.

He scored 210 goals and 399 assists in eight seasons with the Flames before signing a seven-year, $68.25 million contract extension with Columbus in July 2022. He scored 33 goals and had 101 assists in two seasons with the Blue Jackets.

Matthew Gaudreau, a 2017 BC graduate, was 29. He was also a forward who played four seasons in the minor leagues, including parts of three seasons with the ECHL Worcester Railers.

This report uses material from previous Globe articles.

Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected].