Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s sister Katie speaks out after fatal accident in Salem County, New Jersey

OLDMANS TWP., New Jersey – The sister of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau paid tribute to him and her brother Matthew in an Instagram post on Monday following the fatal accident last week.

Katie Gaudreau, who was planning to get married the day after the crash, shared a photo of her family along with the message:

“To know these two was to love them. I don’t have the words to express the bond my family had. The whole world knows that without Matty there would be no John and without John there would be no Matty. The absolute best big brothers a little girl could ask for. This will not be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both. I will take the best care of Mommy, Daddy, Kristen, Mer, Madeline and your babies.”

Johnny and Matthew were killed last week in Salem County, New Jersey, when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while cycling near their family home.

Matthew Gaudreau, 29, was a hockey coach at Gloucester Catholic men’s high school in New Jersey and is also an expectant father. His wife Madeline is expecting their first child in December.

“The best 14 years of my life. I will remember these years and you for the rest of my life,” Madeline posted on Instagram on Sunday.

According to police, the brothers were riding bicycles on County Route 551 in Oldmans Township around 8:30 p.m. Thursday when they were struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 43-year-old Sean Higgins of Woodstown, New Jersey. The crash occurred when the driver attempted to pass a slower vehicle on the right and struck the Gaudreaus from behind.

According to a police affidavit, Higgins told the officer who arrived at the scene that he had consumed “five to six beers” before the accident. According to the report, Higgins failed a breathalyzer test.

Higgins was taken to the Salem County Correctional Facility and charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. During a court appearance via video Friday afternoon, he was ordered held without bail pending a detention hearing on Thursday.

Action News has learned that Higgins is a field artillery officer assigned to the New Jersey Army National Guard at Joint Force Headquarters. He is a part-time Guardsman in traditional drill status and was off duty at the time of the incident.

The New Jersey Army National Guard could not comment on Higgins’ service, but issued the following statement on the fatal crash: “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” said Col Yvonne L. Mays, acting adjutant general of New Jersey. “Our deepest sympathies go out to all those affected and we share the grief of the Gaudreau family.”

We also learned that Higgins works for a rehabilitation facility called Gaudenzia. On Saturday, the nonprofit identified Higgins as an employee but said he was immediately placed on leave following the fatal incident.