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

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Luckily no one here is talking to the Gaudreau family, so this is irrelevant.



All of us feel varying degrees of terrible about this, all of us are doing varying degrees of mourning, none of us are actually firsthand affected by the loss of a father, husband, son, brother, etc in this specific incident. So yeah, shouldn't be a problem to discuss safety.

If talking about safety when it's most likely to sink in saves one person on this board from a tragic accident, or if it causes one person on this board to reconsider their actions at some point down the line which ends up not costing another person their life, it was worth it to talk about safety in a setting that isn't actually insensitive to the Gaudreau family, who isn't reading through this thread right now.

So you genuinely believe that in a thread about two people who were killed yesterday by a drunk driver while cycling, you and others here are potentially saving people from a tragic accident by pointing out that cycling can be dangerous?

There's been as many if not more posts in here about bike safety than the drunk driving or unsafe driving.

The Gaudreau family doesn't have to be reading this firsthand to make something an insanely self-involved and tone-deaf post. But yeah, you guys are the real heroes here.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

I hate seeing those kind of news , my god this is sad .

Hope that guy rot in a jail for the th rest of his life.

 

[CF84]

Was seeing some on Twitter suggesting they should rename the Lady Byng in Gaudreau's honour. I think that would be a really nice thing

I also really like the idea of a new Johnny Hockey Trophy awarded to the player with the most assists.

 

[NYR94]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829650755080610095

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Wow
Suspect is “bummed” he is missing the long weekend and wonders if this could hurry up.

This dude must not be all the way there mentally
Long weekend?

This dude ain’t gonna know what long weekends are for 20+ years

The lack of remorse/guilt kind of shows the type of person he is.

Most people who are genuinely sorry for their reckless actions aren't, "well damn, Jimmy's BBQ party is this Sunday and I can't miss it!"

 

[Nabrules]

RIP Gaudreau brothers

 

[AKL]

So you genuinely believe that in a thread about two people who were killed yesterday by a drunk driver while cycling, you and others here are potentially saving people from a tragic accident by pointing out that cycling can be dangerous?

The Gaudreau family doesn't have to be reading this firsthand to make something an insanely self-involved and tone-deaf post. But yeah, you guys are the real heroes here.

The same conversation earlier in this thread resulted in a few people talking about organizations that people can volunteer with and donate to that are trying to help making cycling safer for cyclists. I'd say that's a pretty positive thing, would you?

Neither me nor anyone else has ever even remotely suggested we're heroes, what a strange straw man argument to pull out right now.

 

[Schennanigans]

I can’t believe that the story just gets worse. Sister getting married too. I can’t even imagine continuing on after that if I’m the parents.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

The same conversation earlier in this thread resulted in a few people talking about organizations that people can volunteer with and donate to that are trying to help making cycling safer for cyclists. I'd say that's a pretty positive thing, would you?

Neither me nor anyone else has ever even remotely suggested we're heroes, what a strange straw man argument to pull out right now.

No but you suggested part of the motivation was that you may be preventing someone from getting injured or killed.

Have there been conversations about getting drunk drivers off the road? or organizations that work to that end?

The lack of awareness is staggering.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

Hope it was instant and no suffering.

 

[93LEAFS]

I can’t believe that the story just gets worse. Sister getting married too. I can’t even imagine continuing on after that if I’m the parents.

There is going to be a massive hole in their lives and things will never be the same, but they have 2 daughters, at least 2 grandchildren, and an upcoming one.

I had a close friend who passed away at 17 in a car accident, and I've been in contact with his parents over the years since (it's been 18 years). Things will never be the same, that hole will never be filled, but there are other joys in life left such as his sister and her son she had in recent years.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

The fact he'd been charged with DUI before (though the charges dropped due to technicality) should make it clear the book should be thrown at him. This wasn't even his first "oopsie, won't do it again". It's pretty clear this is what he does and what he'd continue to do if this horrendous event hadn't have happened.

Yeah the DWI will still be on record even if it was thrown out and also the speeding charge, the fact that he reeked of alcohol, admitted to it and what not means the prosecutors should have a pretty damn good case to make sure a piece of shit like him doesn't step foot outside of a prison ever again. It's clear he has no regard for other peoples lives given he's been in trouble with DWI's before and didn't care to learn his lesson.

 

[spiny norman]

RIP Johnny and Matthew

Condolences to the Gaudreau family.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

This was really well done. Huge props to them putting this together and following through despite having to be vulnerable with their emotions. Even Rhett lost it with the final ending of Monahan hugging after Johnny's winning goal against Dallas. Had me crying.

It's great to see but also wish it was in better resolution so it'd hold up longer, I'm sure better footage will be released just to get more of it out for fans to never forget and pay tribute to.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829656349690773875

 

[T REX]

There's a difference between idealism and pragmatism. The idealism is that cycling on roads is completely legal and should be safe. The pragmatism is realizing that drivers in this country are aggressive assholes that give no regards for the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and even other drivers.

The Gaudreaus have absolutely no fault in this accident, the only thing "at fault" here is the asshole driver and the general messed up driver culture in this country. But you can pragmatically look at those and reasonably say "the lesson for cyclists is to bike as far away from cars as you can" while not blaming the Gaudreaus for the accident.



Absolutely 100% agree. I bike a ton and it's just mind numbing when people bitch at me for going on the sidewalk rather than staying on a busy road. I'm concerned with my safety, not your comfort.

I'm not saying you're wrong per se...the question isn't if you are right or wrong but is this the time and place for this type of commentary? I'll leave it there.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Kept hoping it wasn't going to be true. Terrible, terrible.

This. The day before they were supposed to be at their sister's wedding too. Just so tragic on so many levels.

RIP

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Wow
Suspect is “bummed” he is missing the long weekend and wonders if this could hurry up.

This dude must not be all the way there mentally
Long weekend?

This dude ain’t gonna know what long weekends are for 20+ years

Guy is acting like he ran over a squirrel that darting in front of him. It's baffling the complete lack of empathy and remorse for murdering two innocent people.

 

[StrompTroller]

Sticks out for Johnny and Matthew.

done hours ago, had explain the idea to my wife.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Yup — this is the face of tristate area scum who get drunk alone for no reason, get angry for no reason, etc. False bravado is their coping mechanism, and if they ever get called on it, well, it’s just a Jersey thing y’know. Or a Philly thing. We run hot.

I know the type all too well. What a f***ing loser.

damn, you nailed it

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829580551205863565

 

[Avs44]

I can’t believe that the story just gets worse. Sister getting married too. I can’t even imagine continuing on after that if I’m the parents.

This generation of their family will never properly recover. The parents have children and grandchildren to continue living for; the wives of Johnny and Matthew have little children (and, in the case of Matthew's wife, their first baby around Christmas) they have to continue living for; but there's no coming back from this. The human excrement who caused this needs to be buried under the f***ing jail (I am side eying the behavior of some of the folks in this thread attempting to offer a 'differerent perspective' in this thread), but I am guessing that sadly won't happen. If they kill somebody, their crime should be treated as akin to first degree murder. We are way too lenient on drunk drivers. So many victims.

 

[AKL]

Have there been conversations about getting drunk drivers off the road? or organizations that work to that end?

Like MADD that also came up in that conversation?

Everyone knows drunk driving is bad and illegal, but that doesn't stop it from happening. I cant control what criminals do and I've already said my piece on how they should make getting behind the wheel of a car incredibly difficult if someone is caught driving under the influence.

As someone who doesn't drive when I'm drunk, I can't control if others decide to. I can control the precautions I take to avoid becoming their victim, or even the victim of a more benign accident. That's the same for everyone in this thread.

Screaming into the void about how people shouldn't drive drunk...no one here disagrees with you. You're absolutely correct. What change are you hoping to create with that?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

damn, you nailed it

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829580551205863565

Just like that reporter, the things I want to say will get me banned after reading his quote.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Wow
Suspect is “bummed” he is missing the long weekend and wonders if this could hurry up.

This dude must not be all the way there mentally
Long weekend?

This dude ain’t gonna know what long weekends are for 20+ years

The guy's got two young daughters and he knows he's going away for a long long time. I already hate him for what he did - I don't think it's a situation where I have to go hunting for other reasons.

 

[Loff]

Just saw this now and I'm shivering and the tears are dripping. Like... what.