Gaudreau brothers' widows speak out: 'Didn't get a goodbye'
"He kissed all of us goodbye -- just in the driveway at his parents' house. And that was the last time I saw him," Johnny Gaudreau's wife, Meredith Gaudreau, told ABC News.
MORE: Matthew Gaudreau's widow gives birth 4 months after he was killed by alleged drunk driver
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, a Columbus Blue Jackets star, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, a former pro hockey player, died on Aug. 29, 2024. The brothers, who were home in New Jersey for their sister Katie's wedding, were riding bikes when they were struck by a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, according to police. The suspected driver was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, evidence tampering and leaving the scene of an accident.
"Our kids didn't deserve this," Meredith said. "John and Matty didn't even deserve that, especially the way it happened. It keeps me up at night."
"There's no healing when you didn't get a goodbye," Matthew Gaudreau's wife, Madeline Gaudreau, said.
At the brothers' funeral, Meredith said she told her husband "that I would take care of our kids, and I thanked him for such a great life."
MORE: Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau killed after being hit by alleged drunk driver: Police
At the time of the brothers' deaths, Meredith was a mom to her and Johnny's two young children.
Madeline and Meredith were also both pregnant when their husbands died.
Madeline's baby, Tripp, was born four months later and Meredith -- who announced her pregnancy at the funeral -- gave birth to baby Carter eight months after the crash.
Madeline said that at the funeral "Tripp was kicking a lot, so I just held Matt's hand on my belly for Tripp."
"I didn't wanna say goodbye to either of them because I know I'll see them again one day," she said.
The extended interview with Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau will air on "Good Morning America" on Aug. 13, which would have been Johnny Gaudreau's 32nd birthday.
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