The driver involved in a traffic crash last week that killed two Marquette University lacrosse players was drunk at the time, authorities have alleged.
Scott Michaud, 19, and Noah Snyder, 20 – both members of the university’s men’s lacrosse team – died after a two-vehicle collision on September 5 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Three of their teammates were injured and taken to hospital after the crash. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Amandria Brunner, 41, of West Allis, has been charged with two counts of homicide by an intoxicated use of a vehicle while having a prior intoxicant-related conviction. She faces up to 80 years in prison if convicted of both counts.
According to a criminal complaint, the crash happened on Friday in Milwaukee when Brunner tried to turn left in front of an SUV that was taking six Marquette men’s lacrosse players to a thrift store.
Michaud, a sophomore goalie and biomedical sciences major from Springboro, Ohio, and Snyder, a sophomore attackman and business student from Irving, New York, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two Marquette men’s lacrosse players – Noah Snyder and Scott Michaud – died on Friday
Amandria Brunner, 41, of West Allis, was drunk at the time of the crash, according to authorities
A witness told police that she helped Brunner out of her pickup truck and noticed Brunner smelled of alcohol and kept trying to put gum in her mouth. Police also found an open beer can in her truck, according to the criminal complaint.
Brunner’s blood, which was drawn about two hours after the crash, had a blood alcohol content of 0.133, which exceeds the state’s legal limit to drive of 0.08.
An analysis of the crash recorder in Brunner’s truck found that she had been stopped for about three seconds before she pulled into the intersection with the accelerator depressed almost all the way to the floor, according to the complaint. She was traveling just under 12 mph (19 kph) when she struck the SUV, and she never braked.
Brunner was convicted of operating while intoxicated in November 2003, the complaint says.
A Mass was held in honor of Michaud and Snyder on Saturday at Varsity Theater on Marquette’s campus. Meanwhile, all home athletic events were cancelled in wake of the news.
In a statement, university President Kimo Ah Yun said: ‘Please keep Noah and Scott’s parents, siblings and families, and the Marquette Athletics and college communities in your prayers.
‘Both Noah and Scott were strong students, being named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team in their first year at Marquette for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average.
‘Noah and Scott’s lives were taken too soon and we share in the heartbreak of their teammates, coaches and those who knew them personally.’
University president Kimo Ah Yun released a statement in their honor shortly afterwards
Meanwhile, World Lacrosse – the international governing body of the sport – also paid tribute to the two Marquette stars.
They said: ‘World Lacrosse is heartbroken by the loss of Noah Snyder, who proudly represented the Haudenosaunee at the recent World Lacrosse Men’s U20 Championship, and his Marquette University teammate, Scott Michaud.
‘Noah played the game with heart, joy, and pride in his heritage, leaving a lasting impression on all who shared the field with him.
‘Our deepest condolences go out to the families, friends, teammates, and communities of both Noah and Scott as we mourn this devastating loss’.
Michaud and Snyder were named to the Big East’s all-academic team last year for maintaining grade-point averages of at least 3.0. Snyder played in 13 of Marquette´s 14 games last season, making three starts in the midfield and collecting nine goals and seven assists.
