Two Marquette University student athletes were killed and four other students injured Sept. 5 in a two-vehicle collision that not only ruptures the first month of the school year, but adds a tragic exclamation point to concerns about hazards on Milwaukee streets.
Scott Michaud, 19, and Noah Snyder, 20, were killed in the crash at around 5 p.m. at North 27th Street and West St. Paul Avenue, not far from Marquette’s campus, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Both were members of the men’s lacrosse team, the university said on its Golden Eagles Facebook page. Three of the four who sustained nonfatal injuries also were lacrosse student athletes. They were treated at the scene or taken to a local hospital, according to the university.
A Mass for the Marquette community was held Saturday afternoon at Varsity Theater on campus. Prior to the Mass, the marquee on the theater was changed to say: OUR HEARTS ARE WITH YOU MEN’S LAX TEAM.
The University Counseling Center and Campus Ministry, along with its Employee Assistance Program, were being made available around the clock to students, staff and faculty.
“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,” Marquette University President Kima Ah Yun in a letter to the campus community.
All home athletic events were canceled for the weekend.
Both victims were described as strong academic students.
Michaud’s hometown was Springboro, Ohio. Before coming to Marquette, he went to Springboro High School, a suburban public school south of Dayton. On the Marquette lacrosse website, he was listed as a goalie who was a three-star recruit.
Snyder’s hometown was Getzville, New York. Before coming to Marquette, he went to Westtown School, a Quaker, coeducational, college preparatory day and boarding school located in West Chester, Penn. On the Marquette lacrosse website, he was listed as an attacker and a valuable offensive contributor.
Milwaukee police said a 41-year-old driver who collided with the vehicle carrying the students had been arrested. No charges were filed as of Saturday, pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
World Lacrosse, the international governing body for the sport, issued a statement saying it was “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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
Students on campus the morning after the crash said they were shocked by the news.
Grant Locker, a sophomore and member of the soccer team, said he learned about the crash in his dorm hours after it happened. The thought of his peers experiencing such tragedy on a typical Friday night, he said, was heartbreaking.
Locker and others mentioned they were aware of reckless driving in the area.
“It’s definitely a concern,” Locker told the Journal Sentinel. “You’re just trying to hang out with your friends, and then something terrible like that happens.”
Gabby Kaczwka, a sophomore, said she learned about the crash while out with friends, after her mom sent her a screenshot of the article and urged her to be safe.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see that people weren’t being safe on the road and it cost these students their lives,” Kaczwka said.
University President Ah Yun, in his letter, asked everyone to keep the victims’ families in their prayers.
“Such a loss is difficult to comprehend, and I know that the coming days will be difficult for our community,” he said.
As of Sept. 5, at least 39 people have died in crashes in Milwaukee this year, according to police, which is down about 25% from the year prior.
However, Milwaukee has been wrestling with complaints of reckless driving, speeding, pedestrian safety, and police pursuits. Most recently, illegal street takeovers, in which drivers perform dangerous stunts before cheering crowds, have been drawing attention.
Just last month, two Milwaukee legislators introduced a bill to make available $60 million for traffic calming infrastructure to fight reckless driving across the state.
Statewide, there were 138 fatal reckless driving related incidents and 2,084 injuries from over 5,600 crashes throughout Wisconsin in 2024, according to the state transportation department.  
Drake Bentley contributed to this report.
This story was updated to add videos and new information.  

source