Woman found not guilty in crash that killed 2 Marquette students

A Milwaukee County jury has found Amandria Brunner not guilty on all six charges connected to a crash that killed two Marquette University lacrosse players.The verdict was read at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where jurors acquitted Brunner of all counts following the trial.Brunner had faced two counts each of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, homicide by use of a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and homicide by use of a vehicle involving a controlled substance, three counts for each victim.The two students, 19-year-old Scott Michaud, of Springboro, Ohio, and 20-year-old Noah Snyder, of Getzville, New York, died in a crash on Sept. 5, 2025, at the intersection of North 27th Street and West St. Paul Avenue.According to the criminal complaint, Brunner's pickup truck was turning left on a yellow light when it collided with a Jeep carrying the lacrosse players. Prosecutors said her blood alcohol was nearly twice the legal limit. The defense did not dispute that Brunner had been drinking and driving, but her attorney argued the crash would have happened anyway due to the Jeep speeding through the light. After six hours of deliberations, the jury ultimately sided with the defense, acquitting Brunner on all six charges. Brunner broke down at the defense table as the verdict was read."My reaction is twofold. I'm very happy for my client," Brunner's attorney Abbie Ruckdashel said. "I do believe that she was not at fault in this accident. But my heart breaks for these families. I'm sure they feel like they didn't get justice. I'm sure that feels very terrible for them, and my heart does go out to them."The district attorney's office declined to comment. Brunner was released from custody Thursday night. 12 News was there as she left the Milwaukee County reintegration center in Franklin. She made no comment as she transferred from a law enforcement van to another vehicle. Peter McColgan, the Marquette athlete who was driving the Jeep, is also charged in connection with the crash. He faces two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, accused of speeding and attempting to beat the yellow light.McColgan, who graduated from Marquette in May, took the stand during Brunner's trial but invoked his Fifth Amendment right and did not answer questions. Top HeadlinesSon arrested after striking father with vehicle in Menomonee FallsMilwaukee bar owner hospitalized after scooter runs into him on sidewalkMadison man armed with knife arrested in UW Health hospital assaultWATCH Fond du Lac teen charged as adult in crash that killed friend