Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Obituary, Death – Johnny Gaudreau, an NHL hockey player and native of New Jersey, along with his brother Matthew, has been identified as the two cyclists tragically struck and killed by a vehicle on Thursday night in Salem County, New Jersey.
Authorities report that the driver involved in the incident is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. The Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey state troopers confirmed the deaths of the Gaudreau brothers on Friday morning.
The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Pennsville Auburn Road, near Stumpy Lane in Oldmans Township.
Johnny, aged 31, and Matthew, aged 29, were riding north on County Route 551, close to the edge of the roadway. According to police, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins from Woodstown, New Jersey, was also traveling north on County Route 551 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee when he allegedly attempted to overtake a slower-moving sedan and SUV.
Police state that Higgins entered the southbound lanes to pass the sedan. When he tried to return to the northbound lanes, the SUV in front of him moved into the center of the roadway to safely navigate around two cyclists on the right side.
Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right, resulting in him striking the Gaudreau brothers from behind, as reported by troopers. The brothers succumbed to their injuries, according to state police. A police affidavit indicates that the responding trooper detected a “strong odor of alcohol,” and Higgins allegedly admitted to consuming “five to six beers” prior to the incident.
He reportedly told investigators that he believed the SUV driver was attempting to prevent him from passing and acknowledged that his alcohol consumption contributed to his impatience and reckless driving, as stated in the criminal complaint.
The trooper noted that Higgins subsequently failed a field sobriety test. Higgins has been charged with two counts of death by auto, according to state police, and is currently being held at Salem County Correctional Facility.