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It was a heartwarming moment for the late Johnny Gaudreau's family on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Nationwide Arena crowd during the Columbus Blue Jackets home matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks, as the crowd chanted "Happy Birthday" to the late NHL player Johnny Gaudreau's (Columbus Blue Jackets) baby son's birthday as he turns one year old.
In a video shared on X, the baby boy, Johnny Edward Gaudreau, who attended the game with his family, can be seen looking around curiously and clapping as the arena jointly wishes the little boy on his birthday.
On the same day, Johnny Gaudreau's widow, Meredith Gaudreau, shared an Instagram post celebrating her son's first birthday and recalling how happy Johnny was when 'Baby Johnny' was born. The couple's first child, Noa Harper Gaudreau, was born Sept. 30, 2022, while their second child, Johnny Edward Gaudreau, was born Feb. 2024, and Meredith is expecting the couple's third child.
Johnny Gaudreau and his brother were killed by a driver suspected of driving under the influence on August 29, 2024. Meredith Gaudreau announced that she was pregnant with the couple's third child at the late NHL player's memorial service.
Details on Johnny Gaudreau's death
According to reports, on August 29, 2024, Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were riding bicycles on a road in Oldmans Township in Salem County, New Jersey when they were hit by a man driving an SUV. The two brothers were pronounced dead on the scene.
According to AP news citing a criminal complaint, the driver, named Sean M. Higgins (44 years old), reportedly admitted to the police that he had consumed a few bottles of beer and also consumed alcohol while driving. It was also further reported that he failed a field sobriety test. His blood alcohol level was reportedly 0.087, while the legal limit was 0.08.
According to reports, Higgins was charged with 'two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, and two counts of aggravated manslaughter' as well as other charges like 'tampering with physical evidence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident'. Higgins pled not guilty during an arraignment hearing held on January 7, 2025.
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According to the latest reports by AOL, regarding the death of the Gaudreau Brothers, the accused's attorneys presented papers that alleged that the brothers' blood-alcohol concentration was higher than that of Higgins and asked the courts to dismiss his indictment handed down by a grand jury last year.
According to US Magazine, this information was brought up not to argue that it played a role in the crash but to file a motion to understand how the police collected the blood alcohol levels of the parties involved and ensure their client's "Constitutional rights are protected" It is further reported that the defense might file a motion to not use the result of Higgins’ blood-alcohol test at the trial. The next court date is March 26.
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