Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed Thursday night when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while bicycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, close to their hometown in Salem County there, New Jersey State Police said.
The team confirmed the deaths Friday morning, saying on social media that it was "shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy."
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, was the Blue Jackets’ top forward after signing in July 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames. According to a post on a popular wedding site, Gaudreau and his 29-year-old brother were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister Katie's wedding Friday in Philadelphia.
Johnny Gaudreau leaves behind his wife, Meredith, and two young children, a daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny, who both were born in Columbus. Matthew Gaudreau is survived by his wife, Madeline. Both brothers are survived by their parents, Jane and Gus Gaudreau, and their sisters Kristen and Katie.
Suspected drunk driving incident:NJ man arrested in crash that killed Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau
How did Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau die?
New Jersey State Police said the Gaudreau brothers died after a suspected drunk driver crashed into them shortly before 8:30 p.m. as they biked along rural Pennsville Auburn Road (Salem County Route 551). It was roughly an hour after sunset.
The driver, Sean M. Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, wascharged with two counts of death by auto, also known as vehicular homicide, and taken to the Salem County Correctional Facility.
At his preliminary court hearing Friday, Higgins' arraignment was rescheduled to next Thursday and he will remain in the Salem County jail until then. He was also instructed not to discuss the case with anyone while in jail except for his attorney. Higgins asked Judge Michael Silviano about the process of getting an attorney.
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Troopers suspected Higgins was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, according to a report released Friday morning.
The crash occurred as Higgins was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Pennsville Auburn Road. Higgins passed the car in the southbound lane, but when he went to pass an SUV, the SUV moved to the middle of the road.
The SUV was passing around the Gaudreau brothers pedaling north on the side of the road on their bikes. Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two bicyclists in the rear, state police said. The Gaudreau brothers suffered fatal injuries.
According to the criminal complaint against Higgins, he remained on the scene when law enforcement arrived at the crash site.
Investigators noticed he smelled of alcohol, and he told police that he had drank five to six beers before and while driving before the crash. Higgins also failed a field sobriety test, the complaint states.
Higgins told police he believed his drinking had led to his impatience and reckless driving that resulted in the crash, according to the criminal complaint.
Blue Jackets issue statement
Here is the full statement the Blue Jackets released Friday morning:
"The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their family and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew. Johnny played the game with great joy, which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played, from Boston College to the Calgary Flames to Team USA to the Blue Jackets.
Johnny Gaudreau:NHL 'shocked and saddened' by tragic death of Columbus Blue Jackets star
"He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could. The impact he had on our organization and our sport was profound, but pales in comparison to the indelible impression he made on everyone who knew him. Johnny embraced our community when he arrived two years ago and Columbus welcomed him with open arms. We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy. At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve."
A Blue Jackets spokesman said the team will not be making any further comments until a later date.
Gaudreau’s death happened three years after Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks was killed in a fireworks incident on July 4, 2021 in Novi, Michigan, at the home of Manny Legacy, the team’s former goalie coach.
After two disappointing seasons on the ice, Gaudreau went into this summer with the intention of having a rebound year powered by his offseason training. That included playing for the United States in May at the men’s world championships in Czechia. Gaudreau impressed with three goals, eight assists and 11 points in eight games to finish third on the team in scoring and he tied for fourth in the tournament.
He also led the Blue Jackets with 12-48-60 in 81 games last season, the second year in a row Gaudreau led the team in points, but it was a 14-point drop from his first season in Columbus (2022-23). It was also 55 points lower than Gaudreau's final season in Calgary, which preceded his surprising decision in July 2022 to sign a seven-year deal with the Blue Jackets worth $68.25 million.
The move was criticized across the NHL, especially in Calgary, but Gaudreau never wavered in his primary reason behind picking the Blue Jackets. He and Meredith wanted to raise their kids in Columbus, which is closer to their families in New Jersey. Gaudreau was also impressed Blue Jackets fans, who showed up in large numbers the past two years despite a mountain of losses.
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His goal was to give them more to cheerabout, and that challenge got a boost July 1 with the Blue Jackets signing center Sean Monahan, a close friend and former Flames teammate. Heading towardtraining camp, new coach Dean Evason appeared to have two of his three forward spots filled on the top line with Gaudreau at left wing and Monahan in the middle. Now, a week after trading Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens, there’s a large void of proven elite wingers and a much bigger emptiness in the hearts and minds of Gaudreau's family, teammates and all those who knew him.
bhedger@dispatch.com
