Horrible news on a Friday:

There was speculation last night on social media that Gaudreau and his brother were the victims of a bike accident in his native South Jersey.

The local stations reported on that incident Thursday evening, and on Friday morning 6 ABC confirmed their identities:

NHL hockey player and New Jersey native Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, have been identified as the two bicyclists that were struck and killed by a vehicle on Thursday night in Salem County, New Jersey.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as New Jersey state troopers, confirmed the passing of the Gaudreau brothers Friday morning.

The crash around 8:30 p.m. on Pennsville Auburn Road near Stumpy Lane in Oldmans Township.

According to New Jersey State Police, the driver did stay at the scene.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Gaudreau and his brother “were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister’s wedding Friday in Philadelphia.” He had two young children, a daughter and his son, both of whom were born in Columbus. Gaudreau is from Salem County, went to Boston College, and then began his NHL career with the Calgary Flames. There were rumors that he might come home to Philadelphia a few years ago, but he ended up signing with the Blue Jackets.

Unspeakably tragic. There aren’t a lot of details out there right but I’ll update once more comes out.


EDIT –

Action News updated their story with more details. They were hit by a driver who was trying to pass another vehicle. 

“Police say the driver who struck the brothers is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.”

NBC10:

“NHL player John “Johnny Hockey” Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau were struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes in Salem County, New Jersey, police said.”

EDIT 2 –

EDIT 3 – I pulled some screengrabs of the accident scene. Police reports say it happened near the intersection of 551 and Stumpy Road in Oldman’s Township, which is about halfway between Carney’s Point and Swedesboro:

EDIT 4: here’s the Flyers’ statement –