MN Woman Was On Snapchat Before Crashing Into Bus Full Of Kids: Police

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN — A 19-year-old woman from Alborn, Minnesota, is accused of driving while using Snapchat, leading to a crash with a school bus full of children.

The collision resulted in injuries to 21 students, some as young as 5 years old, as well as the school bus driver.

Svea Lynn Snickers is now facing 22 counts of criminal vehicular operation, each carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

On Sept. 12 at about 7:50 a.m., troopers from the Minnesota State Patrol were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash at the four-way stop intersection of St. Louis County Road 5 and Townline Road in Cherry Township.

The crash involved a school bus and a 2006 Toyota Rav 4.

The driver of the Toyota was identified as Snickers. Twenty-one students were on the bus at the time of the crash.

Snickers was traveling eastbound on Townline Road, and the bus traveled northbound on County Road 5, authorities said.

Snickers failed to stop for the stop sign and caused a t-bone collision with the bus, according to the criminal complaint.

The collision caused the bus's rear axle to lift off the ground, after which it began to move sideways before rolling into a ditch and coming to rest on its driver's side. Investigators noted that there were no skid marks from either vehicle at the scene, indicating that neither had applied the brakes.

Before being taken to the hospital, troopers spoke with Snickers, who believed she had been wearing her seatbelt and recalled traveling at around 60 mph, authorities said.

She also remembered checking her phone at some point prior to the crash but could not recall whether it was just before or several minutes earlier, according to the criminal complaint.

Troopers also interviewed the school bus driver, who stated he was on his usual route when he looked left and saw the Toyota approaching the intersection without slowing or stopping. He immediately recognized the potential for a serious crash but had no time to take any action to avoid being struck by the Toyota, troopers said.

At the time of the crash, the school bus driver said he was traveling at 50-55 mph, wearing his seatbelt, and not using his work-issued phone, according to the criminal complaint.

An eyewitness said she was driving northbound on County Road 5, directly behind the school bus. She estimated their speed to be 55-60 mph.

The witness observed a white car coming from the west that failed to stop and crashed into the side of the bus. She called 911 to report the crash at 7:48 a.m.

On Sept. 19, troopers interviewed Snickers at her home. She initially admitted to using Snapchat to send a "voice text" to a friend but later conceded that it had been a "video message," according to the criminal complaint. Snickers believed she had sent the message while traveling on South Dublin Road, which is near the crash scene, authorities said.

Troopers executed search warrants on Snicker's cell phone and Snapchat account. Records showed that Snickers took a screenshot on Snapchat at 7:48:20 a.m., just seconds before a 911 call was made, according to the criminal complaint.

Troopers spoke with all the children and the school bus driver, who suffered the following injuries:

• Victim 1 (age 52): Abrasions to left leg, pain in abdomen and left knee.
• Victim 2 (age 13): Bruising to right shoulder, tailbone, thighs, right ankle abrasion.
• Victim 3 (age 11): Minor abrasions to left shoulder, back, and rib area, possible chipped tooth.
• Victim 4 (age 9): Pain to both left knee/elbow, abrasions to both knees, left shoulder, back, and ribs.
• Victim 5 (age 11): Abrasions to both wrists, left leg, and head.
• Victim 6 (age 14): Abrasions over left face, head contusion, and neck pain.
• Victim 7 (age 5): Left fractured collarbone and concussion.
• Victim 8 (age 10): Loss of consciousness, likely concussion, laceration to right triceps.
• Victim 9 (age 17): Stitches to elbow cut.
• Victim 10 (age 5): Scrapes.
• Victim 11 (age 9): Concussion, laceration behind left ear, hip contusion, left ankle scratch.
• Victim 12 (age 6): Back pain, right side flank and chest/back contusions.
• Victim 13 (age 13): Right eye laceration, bloody nose, neck/jawline abrasions, head contusion.
• Victim 14 (age 11): Lip laceration, right knee, and finger pain.
• Victim 15 (age 13): Upper back pain and left lateral leg abrasion.
• Victim 16 (age 12): Right elbow laceration and left elbow contusion.
• Victim 17 (age 15): Right hip contusion and lower back strain.
• Victim 18 (age 17): Bruising to lower back, right hand scrape, left knee bruise, right shoulder pain.
• Victim 19 (age 13): Right leg swollen/cut, left knee abrasion.
• Victim 20 (age 10): Left fractured collarbone and concussion.
• Victim 21 (age 15): Right ring finger fracture, left elbow and knee abrasions.
• Victim 22 (age 5): Scratches.