Ex-Minnesota trooper denies involvement in crash causing death of Owatonna teenager
A former Minnesota state trooper has denied charges related to a collision that resulted in the death of a teenage girl and injuries to five others. Shane Roper is accused of driving above the speed limit without lights on in his Minnesota State Patrol vehicle when he collided with another car in Rochester in May 2024. He faces several charges, including manslaughter and reckless driving, and pleaded not guilty to all counts in court. The incident claimed the life of 18-year-old Olivia Flores and injured several individuals. Roper reportedly stated that he was attempting to catch up to a driver he suspected of a traffic violation and was unaware of his speeding at the time of the crash. The state patrol terminated his employment, citing a history of prior crashes attributed to reckless driving or speeding. Legal representatives for Flores' family expressed disappointment over the state permitting Roper to continue patrolling after being aware of his unsafe driving record. Roper's defense plans to request a change of venue for the trial, which is tentatively set for March, with a court hearing scheduled for August to discuss this motion.
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