Police in New Jersey said the man charged in the deaths of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew admitted to driving under the influence on Thursday.
The brothers were riding their bicycles in Old Mans Township, New Jersey, when they were hit by a man who police say may have been driving under the influence.
Johnny Gaudreau was 31 and his brother Matthew was 29. Both were professional ice hockey players, Johnny with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Matthew in the ECHL.
However, police said 43-year-old Shawn M. Higgins, who was arrested at the scene of the crash, Hospitalized He was driving while drunk Daily Mail Reported.
According to the police report, Higgins told officers that “the consumption of alcoholic beverages contributed to his temper and reckless driving.”
According to reports, the brother died the day before he was due to serve as a groomsman at his sister's wedding.
Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith and their two children, 1-year-old Noah and 6-month-old Johnny, and Matthew leaves behind his wife of three years, Madeline.
New Jersey State Police released preliminary findings from the incident and identified Higgins as a suspect in the death.
Shawn M. Higgins, a 43-year-old man from Woodstown, New Jersey, was traveling north on Route 551 in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and an SUV. Higgins attempted to pass the slower sedan and SUV, crossed into the southbound travel lane, passed the slower sedan, and then crossed back into the northbound travel lane when the SUV in front of Higgins moved into the center of the road, dividing the north and south lanes to allow him to safely pass two bicyclists who were traveling north on the right side of the road.
Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV on the right and struck the two cyclists from behind, causing fatal injuries to both cyclists as a result of the collision.
Upon further investigation, Higgins was found to be operating under the influence of alcohol, was charged with two counts of causing death by motor vehicle, and was booked into the Salem County Correctional Facility. This accident remains under investigation and no additional information is available.
Jonny's team released a statement expressing shock over the player's death.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy,” the statement read. “Not only was Johnny a great hockey player, but above all else he was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. Our deepest condolences go out to Johnny's wife Meredith, his children Noah and Johnny, his parents, their families and friends on the sudden passing of both Johnny and Matthew,” the team wrote.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement about the loss.
“Johnny's passion for the game and his incredible skills on the ice earned him the nickname 'Johnny Hockey,' but he was more than just a great hockey player — he was a loving father, a cherished husband, son, brother and teammate and a man who was beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know him,” Bettman wrote.
Johnny was a standout player who garnered numerous accolades and honors. He was also a reliable one-point-per-game player who played in 644 professional games and accumulated 642 points. He had just signed a $69 million contract with the Blue Jackets for 2022.
The New Jersey native played 11 seasons in the NHL with the Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames. Last season he appeared in 81 games and had 48 points. He was drafted by the Flames in 2011 and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, the league's top rookie award. Since then, he has appeared in seven All-Star games. He also played at Boston College, where he won the prestigious Hobey Baker Award in 2014.
Matthew was also a hockey player, playing at Boston University and signing with the New York Islanders minor league team in 2017. He also played in the Swedish Professional Hockey League and the ECHL in the United States.
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