Driver Faces 24 Charges Stemming from Cherry Bus Crash

DULUTH, Minn. – The driver, who authorities say, was distracted by her phone when she crashed into a school bus back in September, is now facing 24 charges.

Svea Snickers, 19, faces 24 charges including five felonies, seventeen gross misdemeanors, and two misdemeanors, from the same crash. A criminal complaint, filed on Thursday, claims the September 12, 2024, crash between a Cherry School District bus, and a 19-year-old driver, was the result of distracted driving.

According to the complaint, the driver, Svea Snickers, told officers she had checked her phone before the crash, but didn’t recall how long before. She was transported to the hospital for serious injuries and questioned by authorities a week later.

During this round of questioning, Snickers told the officers she had been driving home from her boyfriend’s house. She admitted to officers that she sent a video message over Snapchat, while near the scene of the crash.

Authorities executed search warrants on her phone, car, and Snapchat account. They found that Snickers had taken a screenshot of a Snapchat at 7:48 am when the 911 call was reportedly made at 7:50 am. Authorities also claim that data taken from the car indicates there was no braking before the airbags deployed.

The 21 student passengers were found to have a wide range of injuries, from scrapes and bruises to concussions and bone fractures. The bus driver reported minor injuries.
Snickers’ first appearance in court is scheduled for January 30, 2025.

Edit: A previous version of this article incorrectly said that the 911 was made at 9:50 am; however, it was made at 7:50 am.