Marquette students killed in crash: Brunner trial, Wednesday recap
Jury begins deliberations in Brunner trial
A Milwaukee County jury is now deliberating the case of Amandria Brunner, one of two drivers charged in connection to a crash that killed two Marquette University student-athletes last year.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee County jury is now deliberating the case of Amandria Brunner, one of two drivers charged in connection to a crash that killed two Marquette University student-athletes last year.
Wednesday trial summary
What they're saying:
Prosecutors called one more witness Wednesday before resting their case on Wednesday morning.
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The defense called Peter McColgan, the other driver charged in connection with the crash. He briefly took the stand, outside the presence of the jury, and exercised his Fifth Amendment to not answer questions.
"On the advice from counsel, I am asserting my Fifth Amendment right not to answer your question, respectfully," McColgan said when asked a question.
Peter McColgan appears in court during the trial of Amandria Brunner on June 17, 2026.
Zachary Bingen, a Skogen Engineering Group engineer hired by Brunner's defense team, testified that just a second before the crash, McColgan briefly pressed the brake but then hit the gas with the pedal to the floor before hitting Brunner's car as she tried to turn.
Defense Attorney Abigail Ruckdashel: Even at the speed he was going, he would have been able to stop?
Bingen: "Had he reacted and braked, yes."
Ruckdashel: "When the light first turns yellow, Mr. McColgan would have been able to safely stop, even going 50 mph?"
Bingen: "Yes."
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Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Emily Zimmel: "If Brunner stays stopped, doesn't go, does this crash happen?"
Bingen: "No."
The defense rested its case after court resumed after a lunch break. Both sides then delivered closing arguments. Prosecutors said the sole focus should be on Brunner's actions of turning out in front of the SUV, while the defense argued Brunner is not responsible for the young men's deaths.
Amandria Brunner appears in court on June 17, 2026.
"We can all agree, (McColgan) was a bad driver. But that's not your decision to make," Zimmel said during closing arguments. "(Brunner) chose to do that because she's drunk, and she's high, and she doesn't have the decision making and motor skills necessary to safely operate a motor vehicle."
"She made a defensive maneuver," Ruckdashel said in closing. "Her wheel was cranked all the way to the left, trying to avoid this collision – she tried to avoid it."
The jury was excused from court and left to begin deliberations at around 3 p.m. After returning with several questions, court broke for the day at around 4:45 p.m. – with deliberations set to resume at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Homicide cases
In court:
Brunner is charged with two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. A criminal complaint states Brunner was previously convicted of operating while intoxicated in 2003.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office later charged Peter McColgan, a former lacrosse teammate of the victims who they said was driving the car the student-athletes were in, with two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle.
Scott Michaud and Noah Snyder
Fatal crash
The backstory:
The crash happened on Sept. 5, 2025. Milwaukee police responded to the scene near 27th and St. Paul, where a white Ford and silver Jeep were involved.
Court filings said McColgan was driving the Jeep with five passengers inside, four of whom were in the backseat. That included McColgan's lacrosse teammates, 19-year-old Scott Michaud and 20-year-old Noah Snyder. The two men died at the scene, while others were injured.
Prosecutors said it appears McColgan sped up to try to beat a yellow light, going more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit, when Brunner's vehicle turned in front of him at the intersection.
A computer from Brunner's vehicle showed it was stopped for at least three seconds before it drove into the intersection with the accelerator depressed 96%, doing 11 mph, and did not hit the brakes, court filings said. Data from McColgan's Jeep showed the driver "depressed the accelerator 100%" at the start of the crash and was going 53 mph.
Bonus coverage
Brunner trial: State, defense closing arguments
Amandria Brunner trial: Prosecution closing argument
The prosecution team presented its closing argument to the jury in the trial of Amandria Brunner.
Amandria Brunner trial: Defense closing argument
The defense team presented its closing argument to the jury in the trial of Amandria Brunner.
Amandria Brunner trial: Prosecution rebuttal
The prosecution team presented a rebuttal to the jury in the trial of Amandria Brunner.
Brunner trial: Wednesday, June 17
The Source: FOX6 News is in court for the trial on Wednesday and referenced prior coverage related to the crash and the charges against both Brunner and McColgan.