Donations to Matthew Gaudreau’s Widow and Unborn Son Reach Over $550K After His Death

The late former hockey player and his NHL brother Johnny Gaudreau were killed by a driver while biking last week, one day before their sister Katie's wedding

Donations to a GoFundMe fundraiser for late hockey player Matthew Gaudreau’s widow Madeline and their unborn son, Tripp, have soared past $550,000 as of Tuesday, as family, friends, former teammates and fans continue to pay tribute to the late Gaudreau brothers.

Matthew and his older brother, Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, were killed by a driver while biking last Thursday. Matthew was 29, and Johnny was 31.

Johnny and his wife Meredith had two children, 1-year-old daughter Noa and a 7-month-old son Johnny. Matthew and his wife Madeline were expecting their first child, son Tripp, later this year.

In a GoFundMe post set up to support Madeline and baby Tripp, the Gaudreau family said they were “heartbroken” following the “tragic and unfathomable loss” of the two brothers, who both played professional hockey — Matthew most recently the East Coast Hockey League’s Worcester Railers in 2022, and Johnny for the Calgary Flames and later the Blue Jackets throughout his 11-year NHL career. Both brothers played hockey at Boston College prior to turning pro.

Related: Late NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau's Sister-in-Law Promises to 'Take Care' of His Kids and Wife 'Forever'

“In this unimaginably difficult time, we are coming together to support Matthew's wife, Madeline and their growing baby Tripp, and help alleviate some of the financial burdens they now face,” the GoFundMe for Matthew’s family reads. “Your support will allow them the time to take off work to grieve and heal as a family.”

The fatal crash last Thursday happened in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, close to the Gaudreau brothers’ hometown of Salem County. According to New Jersey State Police, driver Sean M. Higgins was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol when he fatally hit the Gaudreau brothers while attempting to pass another vehicle. Higgins was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto, police told PEOPLE.

Higgins is being held without bail at the Salem County Correctional Facility, according to jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Matthew and Johnny were in New Jersey to participate in their sister Katie Gaudreau's wedding the following day as groomsmen in the ceremony, according to her wedding website.

Related: Late NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau's Sister-in-Law Recalls Moment He 'Sneaked Out' of His Bachelor Party to Be with Wife-to-Be

"Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends but truly two amazing humans," the family said in a statement provided to WBZ-TV reporter Dan Roche last week. "We want to let everyone know we are receiving your messages of love and support and we appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. We ask for your continued respect and privacy during this very difficult period of grief."

The statement, issued by Matthew and Johnny's uncle Jim Gaudreau, was signed "from all our families and the bottom of our hearts the Gaudreau, Morris, Korbitz, Venello and Joyce Families."

Tributes to the Gaudreau brothers have come from across the sports world in recent days, while family members have continued to share memories and memorials on social media.

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"John and Matty. U don’t hear one name without the other,” Meredith, Johnny’s widow, wrote in a tribute post over the weekend. ”Always side by side. Even in large group settings, u can find them hip to hip. John’s younger brother- but he looked up to Matty and relied on him for everythinggg. And Matty was always there."

Meredith went on to describe the brothers as "absolute best friends and biggest fans of each other despite polar opposite personalities."

"Everyone wanted to be around them, including me," Meredith added.

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