Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s sister called 2024 the “worst” year of her life after their devastating deaths the night before their wedding.
The Gaudreau brothers died Aug. 29 when police say they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles on a rural road.
The driver, Sean Higgins, has been charged with two counts of death by traffic accident, as well as reckless driving, possession of an open container and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Reflecting on a devastating end to the year, Katie posted an emotional statement on Instagram.
She wrote: ‘2024 I hate you. You went from what should have been the best year of my life to the worst.
‘You taught me that life is cruel and unfair. You made me feel so small and so lost but you didn’t bring out the best in me because I came out stronger and wiser.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s sister, Katie, called 2024 the “worst” year of her life.
Katie wrote in the heartbreaking post that 2024 ‘taught me that life is cruel and unfair.’
‘2025, I’m still not sure how to feel about you because I don’t know how we left 2024 like this.’
Last month, and four months after the tragedy, Matthew’s wife, Madeline, gave birth to a baby boy.
Tripp’s middle name was revealed to be Matthew in honor of his father, and Madeline captioned the post ‘Mom and Dad’s World.’
New Jersey police recently released dramatic body camera footage of the nervous moments after the crash that claimed the lives of the Gaudreau brothers.
Higgins faces up to two decades in prison for the tragedy and could be seen undergoing field sobriety tests after admitting to drinking earlier that day.
“I’ve been drinking beers,” Higgins told police before admitting he had “five or six” Miller Lites.
In the end, he would claim that he “hadn’t had one in about two hours.”
Prosecutors accused Higgins of being legally intoxicated when his vehicle collided with the Gaudreau brothers as they were bicycling on a rural road in suburban Philadelphia.
New Jersey police released body camera footage last month moments after the crash.
A confused Higgins is seen asking “what happened?” after being handcuffed on August 29
The father of two recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.087, slightly above the New Jersey state limit of 0.08. Higgins faces up to 20 years in prison after being charged with two counts of second-degree death by motor vehicle accident.
The police video, provided to ABC 6 Philadelphiaincludes footage of a handcuffed Higgins being read his Miranda rights before asking, ‘Is everyone okay back there?’ What happened?’
Higgins resides in Woodstown, New Jersey, where he is believed to live with his wife and two young daughters.
The father of two had served with the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Kosovo and was promoted to Major during a state leadership visit to the former Yugoslav republic in 2019, when he thanked his family for their support during his military career, DailyMail.com has learned.
He also served as Regional Command East’s Civil-Military Cooperation chief during the tour, although it is unclear if he is still enlisted in the US military.
The Army major is a field artillery officer assigned to the New Jersey Army National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, and works part-time as a traditional training state guard.
A New Jersey judge extended prosecutors’ deadline to request an indictment last month while Higgins remains in prison.
His attorney Matthew Portella referred to Higgins as “a loving father of two daughters” who “made a horrible decision that night,” as quoted by ABC 6.
Senior Sean Higgins, 43, has been charged with two counts of death by traffic accident after fatally running over NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew in New Jersey.
Higgins is accused of being drunk when colliding with Gaudreau and his brother
New Jersey State Troopers described the crash as occurring after Higgins attempted to pass two slower vehicles on rural Route 551 in Oldmans Township in Salem County.
Although he continued to cooperate with police, Higgins appeared nervous in the video and admitted at several points that he was “scared.”
He also warned officers about recent knee surgery that could affect his field sobriety tests.
‘Is it affecting you right now?’ An officer is heard asking.
“I’m (inaudible) over here,” Higgins responded, apparently indicating that he might be limping.
“At any time, if you feel pain, please let me know,” the officer said.
Higgins struggled with some of the instructions and could be heard asking officers to repeat them.
A frustrated officer eventually told Higgins to “turn around and put his hands behind his back” before handcuffing him.
Seemingly confused, Higgins asked what happened, to which an officer told him they would talk about it at the station.
The brothers, who played together at Boston College, have since been honored in Calgary and Columbus, where Johnny played professionally.