Woman found not guilty of all charges in crash that killed Marquette students

Updated: June 18, 2026

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A jury found Amandria Brunner, the 42-year-old woman charged in a crash that killed two Marquette University lacrosse players last fall, not guilty on all counts Thursday. 

Gasps and sobs were heard from both sides as the verdict was read in. As soon as the judge said, "not guilty," the victims' families left the courtroom. 

The verdict left Brunner shaking, and some of her family members were told to leave the courtroom for their reaction. 

After three days of testimony and seeing several videos of the crash, jurors decided they agreed with the "affirmative defense" -- that Brunner's actions didn't cause the deaths of 19-year-old Scott Michaud and 20-year-old Noah Snyder.

Brunner had been charged with two counts each of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, homicide by vehicle - use of a controlled substance, and homicide by vehicle with prohibited alcohol content. 

"She might have been intoxicated, but that didn't affect her driving," defense attorney Abigail Ruckdashel said. "Or if it did, she was still a reasonable driver, following the laws, doing the things that you're supposed to do on the road."

The jurors spent more than six hours deliberating, asking seven questions in total.

Before reaching their verdict, they asked to rewatch video of the crash. The jury had six other questions Wednesday, requesting to see evidence again and asking if they could consider the actions of the other driver.

Throughout the week, we've seen several different angles of the September crash at the intersection of N. 27th St. and W. St. Paul Avenue. 

Brunner was stopped in the left turn lane, later driving through a yellow light which turned red as she got to the intersection. 

Coming from the other direction was Peter McColgan, driving with five other Marquette University students in his car. He was reportedly going 53 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone at the time of the crash, also allegedly trying to beat the yellow light. He too is charged in the crash. 

The defense attorney acknowledged the verdict might not be what the victims' families were expecting. 

"My heart breaks for these families," defense attorney Ruckdashel said. "I'm sure they feel like they didn't get justice."

She went on to say Brunner has been remorseful since it happened. 

"She's cried through this entire trial," said Ruckdashel. "She is remorseful. She feels terrible."

Brunner can now go home, and won't face any additional criminal charges, according to her attorney -- though the victims' families can present a civil case. 

McColgan is due in court for his first appearance July 16. He's charged with two counts homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.

We spoke with local criminal defense attorney Justin Padway Thursday afternoon to dive deeper into what happened in this trial. 

He said he was surprised by the verdict, but also that he thinks the jury made the right decision. 

"What’s unique about it is normally speaking, when you have an OWI causing injury, it’s very clear who’s at fault in terms of how the accident occurred," Padway said. "This case is so unique because the other driver is driving well over the speed limit, speeding up to make it through the red light, causing that causation issue you’re not usually seeing in these types of cases."