Another terrible tragedy in the biking community with Columbus Blue Jacket’s star forward and his brother hit and killed by a drunk driver in NJ who was trying to pass a car on the RIGHT side… The brothers were to attend their sister’s wedding in NJ this weekend.
Gut wrenching news and another terrible tragedy related to someone trying to get somewhere too quickly and also being drunk.
I really hope this care raise awareness for the crisis that is happening on our roads and increase the penalties for those involved.
However, raising awareness and increasing penalties isn’t good enough. We need roads designed to prevent these all-too-often tragedies. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,105 bicyclists were killed in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2022, a 13% increase from 976 in 2021. If you live in the US, please reach out and contact your Congressman or Congresswoman. I will be writing to my congressman, voicing the need to improve road designs for cyclist’s safety.
This truly is a tragedy. Hearing about stories such as this is the main reason why my bike has been parked on the trainer most of this spring and summer (I think I’ve only been outside a handful of times this year).
It’s unfortunate to know that as cyclists, its only takes being in the wrong place at the wrong time for something tragic to happen in the blink of an eye and I would never want my wife, kids and the rest of my family to have to go through what the Gaudreau family is certainly going through at this moment.
RIP to Johnny Hockey, his brother Matthew and my deepest condolences to his family and friends.
My congressman is pushing tax rebates for e-bikes to “encourage bike commuting.” Every time I see a tweet from his aids or this in the news I comment and write to him. The real problem is not that we need assisted bikes but that the roads are dangerous and there is no safe infrastructure for bikes to commute.
I can’t believe what the family is going through during what should be a joyous time. This is just so sad on so many levels.
I’d like to write to my rep as well, do you have any templates of what’s important to say? I’m not quite sure what/how to write it so they will read it and actually take it into consideration.
Hi Ben,
I visited Find Your Representative | house.gov, ; it is fairly straightforward from there. I didn’t use a template; instead, I sent a very polite message explaining that in my area, and I’m sure in every area in the US, we are witnessing more traffic incidents and accidents involving motor vehicles and bicyclists, and that infrastructure improvements are needed to prevent future accidents. In my email, I also mentioned that “painted” bike lanes are not sufficient as an infrastructure improvement, and suggested that more dedicated bike lanes should be considered in high-density bike traffic areas. I don’t expect immediate action, but I did want to raise awareness about this issue.
Hi John,
I agree with you, and I’m sick of it, too, but we don’t have to accept it. If you live in the US, please consider reaching out to your congressperson to make them aware of the need for infrastructure improvements.
My brother just told me about this. I just can’t deal with drunk drivers and people getting killed on bikes by vehicles. I hope the driver gets a life sentence.
This horrible tragedy (the sister’s wedding they were there to attend was scheduled for today) will be followed by another tragedy when the drunk driver gets a too short sentence. I’m shocked at how murder-by-car gets a pass
It’s ironic the motorist ahead legally crossed the centerline to give the cyclists on the shoulder more room, only for the drunk idiot behind to try and pass on the right.
This driver had their wrist slapped before and probably isn’t concerned about another round.
Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, was taken into custody on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol, and police charged him with two counts of vehicular homicide, state police said.
Court records also show numerous traffic violations against Higgins, including operating under the influence of liquor or drugs, reckless driving, consuming alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle, having an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, improper passing, and executing an unsafe lane change
