State Trooper Charged in Death of Teen Cheerleader

A Minnesota State Trooper, known for his history of speeding, has been criminally charged in connection with a fatal accident that claimed the life of a high school cheerleader. The victim, 18-year-old Olivia Flores, was just weeks away from her graduation when the incident occurred. Trooper Shane Roper, 32, was reportedly driving at 83 mph in a 40 mph zone without using lights or sirens when he collided with Flores’ vehicle.

The tragic accident, which occurred on May 18, resulted in the death of Flores and injuries to five other individuals, according to a statement released by Olmstead County Attorney Mark Ostrem. Ostrem alleges that Roper had accelerated to “full throttle” and turned off his lights and sirens just before the collision. Roper now faces charges of second-degree manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and five counts of criminal vehicular operation.

According to local news reports, one of the survivors of the crash described Roper’s vehicle as approaching like a “rocket”. Witnesses reported that Roper’s patrol car collided with a Ford Focus, which was making a left turn, pushing it into a nearby Toyota RAV4. Flores was in the Ford Focus with two other individuals, while two people were in the RAV4. All victims were rushed to a local hospital, but only Flores did not survive her injuries.

Jenna Compton, Flores’ cheer coach, described the teen as “a shining light” in a recent interview. Prosecutors have revealed that Roper has been involved in four previous accidents due to inattentive driving or speeding. In one instance, he was reported to have driven over 99 mph multiple times on the day of an accident, including driving at 135 mph in a 55 mph zone without using lights or sirens.

Ostrem stated that Roper had a passenger in his vehicle at the time of the May 18 crash, who was also injured. Investigators believe that Roper was attempting to catch up to another driver for a minor offense, driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit. Flores’ family has requested an independent investigation into the incident.

Minnesota State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic expressed her condolences to the victim’s family and stated that Roper’s alleged actions were “concerning” as they did not align with the department’s core values. Roper is currently on paid investigative leave as per his labor contract and is not in custody. He was charged by summons.

Ostrem emphasized that the Minnesota State Patrol’s policy is to protect all lives when enforcing the law, a policy he alleges Roper violated by driving in a grossly negligent manner. He added that Roper’s conduct was a violation of the State Patrol’s Core Values and could not be tolerated.