A Minnesota State Trooper is facing second degree manslaughter charges after he allegedly caused a crash in Rochester in May.
First responders were alerted to a serious crash at the entrance to Apache Mall in Rochester on May 18 at around 5:44 p.m.
According to police reports Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Shane Roper was observed crashing into a Ford Focus. That vehicle then hit two other vehicles.
The Rochester Police Department says shortly before the accident, Roper was attempting make a traffic stop and reached a speed of 98 miles per hour on Highway 52 and up to 83 miles per hour on 12th Street SW. The speed limit on that road is only 40 miles per hour.
The police report reads: "Due to Roper's excessive speed (traveling 83 miles per hour and at full throttle up until 1.4 seconds before impact), when the Ford Focus started through the intersection, Roper was unable to sufficiently brake or maneuver his squad car to avoid the collision. Roper's squad car struck the passenger side of the Ford Focus while still traveling at least 55 miles per hour."
As a result of the crash, 18-year-old Olivia Flores died from her injuries, and five others were injured. Trooper Roper had minor injuries.
This is not the first issue with excessive speeds for Roper according to the report. His discipline records revealed four prior crashes he has been involved in while driving his squad car either due to inattentive driving or excessive speed.
"In the three hours leading up to the collision on May 18, it was discovered that on numerous occasions Roper accelerated to over 99 miles per hour while attempting to initiate traffic stops for suspected petty traffic offenses. There was a consistent pattern of Roper reaching and maintaining these high speeds either without activating his emergency lights at all, or turning them off while driving at high rates of speed. During another instance on May 18, it was discovered Roper was traveling 135 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone on the way to a medical assistance call. Neither his lights nor his siren was activated. On the way to this call he noted to his passenger that medical assistance likely would not be needed and that driving in such a manner was normal behavior for him."
"We express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Olivia Flores and to the other community members affected by the tragic fatal crash that occurred on May 18 in Rochester," says Col. Christina Bogojevic, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol. "Today the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office announced charges against Trooper Shane Roper. The conduct alleged in the criminal complaint is concerning and does not align with the State Patrol’s core values. The announcement of charges marks the next steps in the judicial process related to this case. We respect that process and cannot comment further due to ongoing criminal proceedings. In accordance with the troopers’ labor contract, Trooper Shane Roper remains on paid investigative leave."
Roper's charges include second degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide.