Trooper Charged in Crash That Killed Owatonna Teen Demands Trial

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Minnesota State Trooper charged in the Rochester traffic death of a young woman demanded a trial during his first court appearance on Thursday.

Read More: Minnesota State Trooper Charged in Crash That Teen Woman in Rochester

18-year-old Olivia Flores died just weeks before graduating high school following a crash at the 12th St. Southwest/Hwy. 14 entrance to Apache Mall in Rochester on May 18.

Five others, including the trooper and a ride-along passenger, were injured in the three-vehicle crash.

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In July, Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrom published a letter announcing 32-year-old Trooper Shane Roper was charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide and several counts of criminal vehicular operation. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday.

The letter says the Rochester Police Department’s investigation found the Hayfield man was initially stationed on the 6th St. Southwest ramp conducting traffic enforcement when he activated the squad’s emergency lights accelerated south on Hwy. 52 to a speed of 98 mph in an attempt to stop a motorist for a traffic violation.

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Roper then exited Hwy. 52 at the eastbound Hwy. 14 ramp near Apache Mall and deactivated his emergency lights while maintaining a high speed, Ostrom says.

Roper’s squad was estimated to have been traveling towards the mall entrance intersection at speed of 83 mph without emergency lights in the 40 mph zone, according to the crash investigation.

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The investigation found Roper took his foot off the accelerator just 1.4 seconds before colliding with the passenger side of the vehicle carrying Flores as it was making a left-hand turn.

Ostrom says the investigation also indicated Roper had engaged in high-speed driving at least four times on the day of the deadly crash without emergency lights, topping out at a speed of 135 mph.

Roper was released without bail on Thursday. He is due back in court in November and his trial is tentatively scheduled to start in late March.

Story updated to include Roper's Not Guilty Plea

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Gallery Credit: Scott Clow