A former Marquette lacrosse player has been charged with homicide in the September 2025 crash that killed two of his teammates.
Court records show Peter J. McColgan, who turns 22 on May 23, was charged May 19 with two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in the crash that killed Scott Michaud, 19, and Noah Snyder, 20.
The crashed occurred at little after 5 p.m. Sept. 5 at North 27th Street and West St. Paul Avenue, and involved two vehicles – a Ford Ranger pickup truck with one occupant, and a Jeep Grand Cherokee with six people inside it. The driver of the Ford, Amandria Brunner, is also facing homicide charges.
All of the occupants in the Cherokee were members of Marquette’s lacrosse team, according to a criminal complaint, filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
The complaint says McColgan, who drove the Cherokee, told police moments after the collision that he had been driving 30 mph, consistent with the posted speed limit in the area, when the Ford turned left in front of him.
Data downloaded from the Jeep’s Airbag Control Module indicated the Jeep’s accelerator was 100% depressed and that the vehicle was traveling at 53 mph when the cars collided.
Michaud and Snyder were in the back seat at the time. A medical examiner’s report determined Michaud and Snyder died from “multiple blunt force injuries” that they suffered in the crash.
Surveillance video recovered from a nearby building on North 27th Street showed the southbound traffic light transitioning to yellow as the Jeep approached. According to the complaint, crash reconstruction data and video evidence indicated the driver had the opportunity to safely stop but instead sped up in an attempt to “beat” the yellow light.
A spokesman for Marquette University confirmed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that McColgan, of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from the college in May.
“Our priority remains caring for our campus community, and especially our men’s lacrosse team that has suffered a profound tragedy with the loss of their teammates,” the university said in a statement. “We offer our continued prayers for the families, friends and loved ones of Noah and Scott, who will always be cherished members of our Marquette family.”
The statement went on to say Marquette would have no further comment as the incident is an ongoing legal matter.
McColgan has hired Milwaukee lawyer Michael J. Steinle to represent him. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance July 16.
Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey J. Altenburg told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel prosecutors are not planning to amend or throw out charges against Brunner, the other driver charged in the deadly crash.
The West Allis woman was arrested at the scene that night. She faces two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and two counts of homicide by use of a vehicle as a party to a crime.
According to a criminal complaint, blood sample taken from Brunner after the crash showed her blood alcohol level was 0.133 – nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Brunner, 42, is expected to be in court June 4 for what could be the final hearing before her June 15 trial.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Marquette lacrosse player charged in crash that killed 2 teammates
Reporting by Chris Ramirez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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