Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s Family File Court Order to Stop Release of Records from Deadly Accident
NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver while riding bikes together the night before their sister's wedding
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's family filed a court motion requesting a halt on the release of any documents related to the accident that killed their sons
The two brothers were killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey the night before their sister's wedding
Police notes from the crime scene were already shared on social media just after their deaths
The family of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau are asking a New Jersey court to stop the potential release of any records related to the brothers’ tragic deaths.
NJ.com reported Thursday that the Gaudreau family filed a court motion in hopes of preventing any potential release of records, including 911 calls, videos, photos, autopsy images or investigative reports related to their deaths on Aug. 29.
The request comes after images of handwritten notes taken by police officers at the scene were shared on social media, according to NJ.com.
The brothers were killed when an alleged drunk driver crashed into them while they were riding bicycles together the night before they were set to be groomsmen in their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding.
Johnny, an 11-year NHL veteran who played for the Calgary Flames and more recently for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was 31 years old. Matthew, a former hockey standout at Boston College, was 29.
The driver, Sean M. Higgins, has remained in police custody on two counts of death by auto since he was arrested after the crash in late August.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Higgins’ blood alcohol level was at 0.087, over the legal limit of 0.08, at the time of the crash. Prosecutors alleged in Higgins’ first court hearing that he was driving over the speed limit, the newspaper reported. Higgins also reportedly told officers he had “five to six” beers before the crash, according to the Dispatch, which also reported that Higgins admitted to the crash to a relative and a friend during two phone calls he made from jail.
The Gaudreau family memorialized the brothers at a joint funeral last month, attended by friends, family, teammates and several NHL players and league officials.
At the funeral, Johnny’s widow Meredith announced she was pregnant with her and her late husband’s third child together. Johnny and Meredith share two other children: daughter Noa, who recently turned 2 years old, and Johnny, who was born in February.
“In less than three years of marriage, we've created a family of five,” she said during an emotional tribute to her late husband. “It doesn't even sound possible, but I look at it as the ultimate blessing. How lucky am I to be the mother of John's three babies? Our last one being a blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances."
Matthew’s widow Madeline is also pregnant. She is expecting to give birth to her and Matthew’s first child together, baby Tripp, later this year. A GoFundMe fundraiser was launched in support of Madeline and Tripp shortly after the Gaudreau brother’s death, raising more than $850,000 as of early October.
In a statement shortly after the brothers’ deaths, the Gaudreau family mourned that they had “lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans."
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"We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers,” the statement signed by several members of the Gaudreau family said. “We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief."
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