In Memoriam Johnny Gaudreau & Matthew Gaudreau killed by drunk driver while cycling (MOD WARNING. No Flaming, Trolling, or Politics.)

[Oscar Lindberg]

Too lenient with drunk driving. They reoffend and reoffend until someone dies like what happened here.

This isn't about punishment or hurting the people who drive drunk. It's about protecting the public, protecting society from people who can't be trusted to behave responsibly. A slap on the wrist, letting them keep their licenses, no jail time, etc... it all needs to stop. Second chances are for people who deserve them. Not for a coin flip that within 5 years they'll be caught and convicted of drunk driving again.

This guy had a DWI in the past as well. He got out of it because the cop didn’t show up to court.

Insane

 

[sneakytitz]

And Matthew Gaudreaus wife is pregnant. Saw Adam Boqvist donated to the go fund me set up for her and her expected son.

Got a link to that?

 

[pesko]

Maybe the laws and penalties are more stringent where you live?

I'm not sure, but I think they are. You lose your driver's license for a period of time for any DUI in addition to fine or jail time. I think the legal blood alcohol content limits are pretty similiar, but the severity of the punishment here depends primarily on your blood alcohol concentration and is more severe.

 

[JPeeper]

Anyone know what happens with Johnny's contract? ie. will his estate (wife and kids) get the remaining money left on his deal? I know it is a crappy thing to think in a time like this, but I hope Meredith and the kids get that money.

Also hope that POS driver gets life in prison, no regard for anyone but himself.

 

[thefutures]

Rest in peace Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

 

[dirtydanglez]

The fact the shithead was still drinking while driving combined with making the only incorrect driving decision to pass on the right, let alone the result. A prior DWI... lock him up and melt the key into oblivion. Infuriating. Senseless loss.

i do wonder about the car that moved over for the gaudreau's. when the defense gets a hold of this case i wonder if they will try to argue that the drunk driver had to swerve right to avoid a crash with the car that moved over for gaudreaus.

i know that doesn't seems to be the case given what was allegedly said by the drunk driver but by the sounds of it he was also heavily intoxicated so i dont know how much to believe what he said.

 

[red devil]

Got a link to that?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829607677904986522

 

[thewookie1]

Wonder what kind of irritated sigh he'll have when he's (hopefully) held without bond.

Garbage masquerading as a human being.

Perhaps he'd like some time in a cell with the Gaudreau family and a few of their friends....

 

[Acallabeth]

This guy had a DWI in the past as well. He got out of it because the cop didn’t show up to court.

That cop should be executed or at least serve life sentence as well, I figure.

 

[Panteras]

This might sound stupid, but whenever I’ve ridden my road bike, I like to ride the opposite way facing oncoming traffic. With that said, avoiding a complete idiot might not be possible no matter how many precautions you take. I’ve traveled extensively in North America to have experienced so many reckless idiots doing the dumbest most dangerous stuff that most of my bike riding has been mountain biking these last couple of years. Anyway you slice it this is just an incomprehensible tragedy to his family. I mean this is downright brutal. And this schmuck doesn’t show that much remorse. Not saying he purposely mowed them down, but someone who truly felt terrible about what they did would be visibly shattered. This dude doesn’t look like it. If he was indeed intoxicated he should get the outright fullest extent of the law.

 

[StreetHawk]

i do wonder about the car that moved over for the gaudreau's. when the defense gets a hold of this case i wonder if they will try to argue that the drunk driver had to swerve right to avoid a crash with the car that moved over for gaudreaus.

i know that doesn't seems to be the case given what was allegedly said by the drunk driver but by the sounds of it he was also heavily intoxicated so i dont know how much to believe what he said.

If the cars ahead of this idiot slid to the left, they shouldn't be over there very long as the only reason to slide to the left and likely into the oncoming lane is that they see that they see that the oncoming traffic is letting up (this was a 1 lane road each way right?), so that they can then pass the Gaudreau brothers. They shouldn't have been over to the left for like 30 seconds prior to the accident/crash.

They should/would have blown past the Gaudreau brothers by then I would imagine.

 

[Viqsi]

Yeah people just blame alcohol for messed up things people do when drunk are missing the point. Alcohol just makes you more brazen, if you're a reckless driver sober you'll be an even more reckless driver drunk.

Drinking doesn't magically just make you a shitty person, it just enables the shitty person inside of you to come out.

In large part it was learning about this that finally got me to cease to be a neoprohibitionist. (That and learning about what happened the last time it was tried.)

 

[GirardSpinorama]

i do wonder about the car that moved over for the gaudreau's. when the defense gets a hold of this case i wonder if they will try to argue that the drunk driver had to swerve right to avoid a crash with the car that moved over for gaudreaus.

i know that doesn't seems to be the case given what was allegedly said by the drunk driver but by the sounds of it he was also heavily intoxicated so i dont know how much to believe what he said.

At least this moron is honest about it all in his police statement. Otherwise, this case would get really complicated with the right lawyer.

I think the few situation where a car can legally go to the shoulder is to avoid an accident.

 

[swiftwin]

Not saying that poor Gaudreaus' death is an accident, but yes, road accidents do happen by accident all the time. If a car's tire explodes and it's thrown into another lane, it's not because the driver CHOSE so.

This is a red herring.

Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2021

Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2021

tc.canada.ca

Looking at the stats, only 3-4% of accidents had the vehicle as one of the factors in the accident. Out of that 3-4%, the vehicle could have been a factor on top of other factors. You could also rule out those who chose to be negligent in maintaining their car properly.

 

[Frank Drebin]

This might sound stupid, but whenever I’ve ridden my road bike, I like to ride the opposite way facing oncoming traffic. With that said, avoiding a complete idiot might not be possible no matter how many precautions you take. I’ve traveled extensively in North America to have experienced so many reckless idiots doing the dumbest most dangerous stuff that most of my bike riding has been mountain biking these last couple of years. Anyway you slice it this is just an incomprehensible tragedy to his family. I mean this is downright brutal. And this schmuck doesn’t show that much remorse. Not saying he purposely mowed them down, but someone who truly felt terrible about what they did would be visibly shattered. This dude doesn’t look like it. If he was indeed intoxicated he should get the outright fullest extent of the law.

I've gone on runs at my folks house. There is a very narrow highway much like this one with foot wide shoulders. I would always run facing traffic so I could see any trouble head on.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

I feel like I haven't processed the fact that this actually happened yet

 

[Crosby2010]

I will start off by saying the victims are the Gaudreau family. If Johnny and Matthew's sister still went ahead with her wedding today, then God bless her, because I honestly couldn't imagine trying to be happy on what should be the happiest day of her life. This is all just heartbreaking, the whole thing. No amount of money can bring back those two, and we are forgetting the Gaudreau parents as well. I am guessing they have at least three kids, well, two of them got wiped out yesterday. Just imagine literally 24 hours ago they were all getting ready for a huge celebration. And then on a dime their lives are destroyed.

I don't know everything about the driver yet, it is all so preliminary. I saw that video posted, I am not sure I'd judge his character based on that. He seemed rather compliant and by the looks of it humble. He is going to need to seek forgiveness here. Pleading guilty will go a long ways. I don't think he'll be fortunate like, say, Dany Heatley who had the blessing of Dan Snyder's family behind him, NOT wanting him to spend time in jail, and he didn't either. Rob Ramage got a light sentence for the death of Keith Magnuson and I do know both families were close. Pretty sure Craig MacTavish did not know the woman he killed before it happened but I do understand that he compensated them over the years and has remained close with them. Bottom line what I am saying is that for everyone thinking this guy needs the gas chamber, he isn't getting it. MacTavish got a year in jail, Heatley got nothing although it was just speeding not drunkenness. I am trying to think of other cases off the top of my head involving athletes. But all I can say is that this guy has got to just sit back and show remorse for what he did. History shows that genuine remorse will go a long ways. But man, I do have to admit if I am in the Gaudreau family I am not in the mood for forgiveness at the moment. I am thinking a 10 year sentence and it out in 5-6 years with driving restrictions. I am not the one handing the sentence down but if I were to guess this is what he might get.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Man I am not holding it together well at all. My heart is broken for Guy and Jane, such great salt of the earth people. Their sisters and Meredith with the two young kids as well. The day before their sister's wedding too, life just isn't fair. Completely devastated for them.

RIP Johnny and Matthew, you were loved.
Hope the Flames retire #13 ASAP

really just too sad to be angry at this moment

 

[MrLouniverse]

Anyone know what happens with Johnny's contract? ie. will his estate (wife and kids) get the remaining money left on his deal? I know it is a crappy thing to think in a time like this, but I hope Meredith and the kids get that money.

Also hope that POS driver gets life in prison, no regard for anyone but himself.

Insofar as I can tell from skimming the CBA and the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding the contract is void, but the dependents can continue to receive fringe benefits for 6 months (36 with COBRA) and there is (optionally?) some sort of life insurance benefit from the league, in addition to whatever life insurance he may have otherwise had.

 

[ChiHawks10]

This is a red herring.

Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2021

Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2021

tc.canada.ca

Looking at the stats, only 3-4% of accidents had the vehicle as one of the factors in the accident. Out of that 3-4%, the vehicle could have been a factor on top of other factors. You could also rule out those who chose to be negligent in maintaining their car properly.

So you're doubling down on the bad take eh?

 

[Straight Fire]

He was the main reason I started buying NHL centre ice, to keep watching him in Columbus.

I felt this year he might turn the corner there being reunited with Monahan. Keeping Monahan in my prayers too. Must be heartbreaking to him to. Shattering.

 

[Cloned]

I will start off by saying the victims are the Gaudreau family. If Johnny and Matthew's sister still went ahead with her wedding today, then God bless her, because I honestly couldn't imagine trying to be happy on what should be the happiest day of her life. This is all just heartbreaking, the whole thing. No amount of money can bring back those two, and we are forgetting the Gaudreau parents as well. I am guessing they have at least three kids, well, two of them got wiped out yesterday. Just imagine literally 24 hours ago they were all getting ready for a huge celebration. And then on a dime their lives are destroyed.

I don't know everything about the driver yet, it is all so preliminary. I saw that video posted, I am not sure I'd judge his character based on that. He seemed rather compliant and by the looks of it humble. He is going to need to seek forgiveness here. Pleading guilty will go a long ways. I don't think he'll be fortunate like, say, Dany Heatley who had the blessing of Dan Snyder's family behind him, NOT wanting him to spend time in jail, and he didn't either. Rob Ramage got a light sentence for the death of Keith Magnuson and I do know both families were close. Pretty sure Craig MacTavish did not know the woman he killed before it happened but I do understand that he compensated them over the years and has remained close with them. Bottom line what I am saying is that for everyone thinking this guy needs the gas chamber, he isn't getting it. MacTavish got a year in jail, Heatley got nothing although it was just speeding not drunkenness. I am trying to think of other cases off the top of my head involving athletes. But all I can say is that this guy has got to just sit back and show remorse for what he did. History shows that genuine remorse will go a long ways. But man, I do have to admit if I am in the Gaudreau family I am not in the mood for forgiveness at the moment. I am thinking a 10 year sentence and it out in 5-6 years with driving restrictions. I am not the one handing the sentence down but if I were to guess this is what he might get.

Things in this world are rarely simple.

He wasn’t decent enough to not drink and drive, or be overly aggressive on the road.

He was decent enough to not hit and run, which at least shows that he can take responsibility for what happened after the fact.

He needs to get a harsh sentence but he is not completely evil or even completely unredeemable.

He made a series of extremely poor willful decisions which resulted in harm that I’m sure he didn’t want to commit. He should be punished, and he should be given the chance for rehabilitation.

 

[AKL]

if the drunk driver is already passing in the left (oncoming) lane then they would have the right away over the vehicle that is also moving into the left lane to make space for the gaudreau's. if the drunk driver was cut off in the process then i think the other car would also share fault in the accident.

that being said i dont think this is what actually happened based on the statements so far but it will be interesting to see the accident report whenever it is released.

The police report seems to indicate that's more or less what happened, though it's hard to say how quickly it all happened or how far in advance the front car moved over. The drunk driver was already past the back car, but we don't know how much distance was between the front and back car.

The front car didn't directly cause this to happen, but it was also in the police report that the front car saw the drunk driver approaching from behind at a high rate of speed prior to moving over.

Again, not to necessarily blame the front car, but it is entirely possible that if the front car had simply braked and not tried to pass the Gaudreau's until after the drunk driver passed them, this wouldn't have happened in the way it did.

That is to say, the front car may not have been reckless, aggressive and drunk like the drunk driver was, but better decision making by the front car may also have been enough to avoid this tragedy, despite the drunk driver.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

Anyone know what happens with Johnny's contract? ie. will his estate (wife and kids) get the remaining money left on his deal? I know it is a crappy thing to think in a time like this, but I hope Meredith and the kids get that money.

Also hope that POS driver gets life in prison, no regard for anyone but himself.

They would get his life insurance payout, whatever that works out to.

 

[norrisnick]

Again, you are pulling that interpretation out of thin air.

Playing rec hockey is inherently dangerous. Boarding someone from behind is a major penalty and ejection. If I’m playing rec hockey and someone boards me from behind, it would be completely reasonable with no victim-blaming implication for an onlooker to say “yeah, that’s why I don’t play rec hockey, there’s always some psycho out there doing stuff like that”.

Imagine someone else in the stands getting pissed because this comment implies that I’m at fault for my own being boarded. That’s how ridiculous this is, especially after this many clarifying comments.

The air where you tossed it.

Words have meanings. Even when misused (the inherently in the post I'm quoting right now for one). And statements have meanings, explicit and/or implicit. What isn't said can be just as direct as what is said.

"X is a dangerous place to be, I would avoid it because of incidents like this one."

What's the implication about the person that does choose to be at X? By saying it is dangerous and you wouldn't choose to be there, you've already made a value judgment of X. You don't need to say the extra words. What you've said lets everyone know how you feel. You just don't like being called out on it so you hide behind "But I didn't say that!".