A suspected drunk driver killed Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Thursday evening while the two were bicycling in New Jersey.

Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, both died in the crash that happened along a rural road in Oldsman Township in Salem County, located in southwestern New Jersey about 30 miles south of Philadelphia, according to information provided by the New Jersey State Police.

Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, was taken into custody on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol, and police charged him with two counts of vehicular homicide, the state police said. He is currently in the Salem County Correctional Facility.

Officials have not said when Higgins will make his first court appearance.

Who is Johnny Gaudreau?
Gaudreau, 31, was the Blue Jackets’ top forward after signing in July 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Calgary Flames.

After two disappointing seasons, Gaudreau went into this summer with the intention of having a rebound year powered by his offseason training. That included playing for the United States in May at the men’s world championships in Czechia. Gaudreau impressed with three goals, eight assists and 11 points in eight games to finish third on the team in scoring and he tied for fourth in the tournament.

He also led the Blue Jackets with 12-48-60 in 81 games last season, the second year in a row Gaudreau led the team in points, but it was a 14-point drop from his first season in Columbus (2022-23). It was also 55 points lower than Gaudreau’s final season in Calgary, which preceded his surprising decision in July 2022 to sign a seven-year deal with the Blue Jackets worth $68.25 million.

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