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  • Page Six

    NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and brother Matthew, 29, killed by drunk driver the night before sister’s wedding

    By Nicholas Hautman,

    5 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0YmFao_0vFQo6By00

    NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were killed by a suspected drunk driver Thursday night. They were 31 and 29, respectively.

    The Gaudreaus had been riding bikes along the side of a road in their native Salem County, NJ, when a man driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee attempted to pass two slow-moving vehicles and instead struck the siblings from behind around 8:19 p.m., state police told the Columbus Dispatch Friday.

    The driver, Sean M. Higgins, was jailed and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, according to inmate records seen by Page Six.

    Police detected a “strong odor” of alcohol on Higgins’ breath at the scene, per an affidavit obtained by NBC News , which reported that the 43-year-old admitted to having consumed five or six beers before the crash.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0bg4Is_0vFQo6By00
    NHL star Johnny Gaudreau (right) and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau (left), were killed in a bike accident Thursday. Getty Images
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2LvN7o_0vFQo6By00
    Johnny, seen here in May during the 2024 IIHF World Championship, played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Getty Images

    Johnny Gaudreau’s sister Katie’s wedding canceled after NHL star and brother Matthew killed by drunk driver

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ATYvh_0vFQo6By00
    Johnny (far right) and Matthew (center) had been scheduled to attend the wedding of their sister Katie Gaudreau (second from right) Friday. Instagram / @kgaudreau13

    Johnny and Matthew, both of whom were pronounced dead at the scene, had been set to attend their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding Friday.

    The brothers were supposed to be groomsmen during the church ceremony in Gloucester City, NJ, according to the bride-to-be’s page on the Knot .

    The afternoon nuptials and evening reception in Philadelphia have since been canceled .

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=00Xwl6_0vFQo6By00
    The Gaudreaus were riding bikes in New Jersey when a suspected drunk driver struck them from behind. Instagram / @mattygaudreau11

    Slash’s stepdaughter Lucy-Bleu Knight’s cause of death revealed

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1FEAt7_0vFQo6By00
    They died at the scene. Instagram / @mattygaudreau11
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0h8NgV_0vFQo6By00
    Sean M. Higgins was jailed and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. Salem County Correctional Facility
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=46ucrL_0vFQo6By00
    The Blue Jackets issued a statement on the “unimaginable tragedy.” @BlueJacketsNHL/Twitter

    Johnny’s “shocked and devastated” team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, issued a statement Friday morning addressing the “unimaginable tragedy.”

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    “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,” the Ohio-based organization said in part.

    “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. … We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1AzDwM_0vFQo6By00
    Johnny married Meredith Gaudreau in 2021. @johngaudreau03/Instagram
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0TD8oY_0vFQo6By00
    The couple had two young children: daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr. @meredithgaudreau_/Instagram

    The Blue Jackets also offered their condolences to Johnny’s wife of nearly three years, Meredith Gaudreau, and their two children, 1-year-old daughter Noa and 6-month-old son Johnny Jr.

    Both Johnny and Matthew were hockey players at Boston College before the former, a left winger, went pro in 2014.

    Johnny played nine seasons with the Calgary Flames and two with the Blue Jackets.

    For more celebrity and entertainment news, visit pagesix.com.

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