Johnny Gaudreau’s wife has paid a devastating tribute after the NHL star and his younger brother were fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver while riding bikes in New Jersey.
The 31-year-old Johnny, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his 29-year-old brother Matthew were out on Thursday night in Oldmans Township when they were struck by a vehicle.
The crash happened one day before they were supposed to be groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding, while Matthew’s wife Madeline is currently pregnant.
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Johnny and his wife Meredith have two young children — Noa, who turns two later this month, and Johnny Jr, born in February this year.
“Thank you for the best years of my life. Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours,” Meredith Gaudreau wrote.
“I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.”
In a separate post, she called the athlete the “absolute best dad in the world.”
“So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’s eye,” she wrote.
“I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so so much daddy.”
The driver, 43-year-old Sean Higgins, was travelling northbound behind a sedan and SUV and attempted to pass both vehicles when he struck the brothers, an affidavit of probable cause states.
Authorities said Higgins entered the southbound lane and passed the sedan, “at which time he observed the SUV also enter the southbound lane”.
Higgins told police that he thought the SUV was trying to prevent him from passing so he “re-entered the northbound lane of travel, in order to unlawfully pass the SUV on the right”, the probable cause alleges.
The SUV had entered the southbound lane to safely pass the brothers, who were biking on a narrow shoulder of the northbound lane.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Police said they detected “a strong odour” of alcohol from Higgins’ breath at the scene and he failed a sobriety test.
Higgins allegedly told police that he had consumed five to six beers before the accident, the probable cause says.
He was charged with two counts of death by auto and was booked into the Salem County Correctional Facility.
During a court appearance on Friday, a judge ordered Higgins to remain in jail until his detention trial on Sept. 5. He could face up to 10 years in prison.
– with 7NEWS