COLUMBUS, Ohio — Katie Gaudreau commented publicly for the first time since her two brothers, Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, were killed by an alleged drunken driver the day before her wedding.
In Katie's Instagram post on Tuesday, she shared several photos of her, Johnny and Matthew. The photos appear to be from Johnny's wedding day, Katie's college graduation and other family events.
"To know these two was to love these two. There are absolutely no words I have to express the bond my family shared. The entire world knows there would never have been a John without Matty or Matty without John. The absolute best big brothers a little girl could have asked for. This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both. I’ll take the best care of mom, dad, Kristen, Mer, Madeline, and your babies," Katie wrote in the post.
The Gaudreau brothers were riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey when police say they were hit by a suspected drunken driver who was driving in the same direction.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean Higgins, was driving an SUV when he hit Johnny and Matthew from behind after trying to pass two other vehicles. The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Higgins told a responding officer he had five or six beers prior to the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol while driving, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press. He failed a field sobriety test, the complaint said.
Higgins is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Johnny and Matthew were set to be groomsmen at Katie's wedding, which was scheduled to take place the following day.
Johnny Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames.