Jeffrey Watts, 39, and Summer Gaudet, 30, Struck in Devastating Collision on Almonaster Avenue — Two Others in Critical Condition After Reckless Driving Incident; Joshua Stevens, 22, Charged with Vehicular Homicide as New Orleans Community Demands Accountability
A peaceful Saturday evening ride turned into a scene of unimaginable devastation on Almonaster Avenue in New Orleans East, when two motorcyclists — Jeffrey Watts, 39, and Summer Gaudet, 30 — lost their lives in an instant. Around 12:19 a.m., a car driven by Joshua Stevens, 22, slammed into a group of motorcyclists who had stopped at a traffic light.
The impact was catastrophic. The two motorcycles ridden by Watts and Gaudet were crushed under the weight of the oncoming sedan. The force of the crash left both individuals fatally injured at the scene. They had no time to react. No time to escape. It was over in moments.
Two other riders — one man and one woman whose names have not yet been released — were also struck in the collision. Both were transported to the hospital in critical condition. As of the latest reports, they remain under intensive care, their conditions described as life-threatening.
What Happened
According to the New Orleans Police Department, the group of motorcyclists was stationary at the time of the crash, stopped in traffic on the 6900 block of Almonaster Avenue. Stevens, allegedly speeding in his vehicle, collided with the rear of the motorcycles at high velocity.
The scene quickly became chaotic. Emergency personnel arrived to find two lives lost and two others hanging in the balance. Traffic on Almonaster Avenue was shut down for hours as investigators reconstructed the crash.
Driver Faces Charges
Joshua Stevens, the 22-year-old driver, was taken into custody shortly after the incident. He is now facing two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular negligent injuring. Authorities stated that reckless speeding was a clear factor in the crash. Toxicology tests were administered, though no public statements have confirmed whether alcohol or drugs played a role.
Stevens is currently being held at the Orleans Justice Center, with bond set at $150,000.
Lives Remembered
Not much has been publicly shared about Jeffrey Watts and Summer Gaudet beyond their names and ages. But within the local motorcycling community, the grief is palpable. Fellow riders describe them as experienced, respectful, and close-knit members of the riding scene — the kind of people who didn’t take unnecessary risks, who loved the open road and the freedom it offered.
Jeffrey and Summer were more than just riders. They were family to someone. Friends to many. Their lives mattered deeply to those who knew them. And now, their absence leaves a void impossible to fill.
A Community in Mourning
News of the crash spread quickly throughout New Orleans East. By Sunday morning, tributes began appearing online. Local riders, shocked by the senseless nature of the incident, held impromptu gatherings to honor those lost and pray for the injured survivors.
“I ride that route all the time,” said one motorcyclist. “That could’ve been any of us.”
The Road Ahead
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Police are urging anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have seen Stevens driving before the impact, to come forward. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses and dashcams may help clarify exactly how the tragedy unfolded.
In the meantime, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims and ensuring justice is served. The two surviving riders are receiving around-the-clock medical attention, with families asking for privacy and prayers.
Safety and Accountability
This incident has renewed urgent discussions around road safety and reckless driving in New Orleans. Many locals are demanding stronger enforcement of speed limits, particularly on long, open stretches of road like Almonaster Avenue, where high speeds are common and police presence is limited.
The consequences of even a few seconds of careless driving are now etched in the memories of all who live nearby. Two people are gone. Two more are fighting for their lives. One driver faces years behind bars. All because of a single moment of recklessness.
Final Words
On that quiet stretch of road, Jeffrey Watts and Summer Gaudet never saw it coming. They were doing what they loved — riding together, connected by the open road and the community they shared. Their lives ended not because of a choice they made, but because of someone else’s.
Their families now face unbearable loss. Their friends grieve in shock. The city of New Orleans mourns with them.
If you know anything about what happened that night, speak up. If you ride, ride safely. And if you drive, remember: the choices you make behind the wheel can change lives forever.
Rest in peace, Jeffrey Watts and Summer Gaudet. You are not forgotten.
