Minnesota cop charged after patrol car slammed into cheerleader’s vehicle ‘at full throttle,’ killing her
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A speeding Minnesota state trooper plowed into the passenger side of a Ford Focus “at full throttle” and killed a high school cheerleader shortly before her graduation, court documents show.
Police officer Shane Roper, 32, is alleged to have reached speeds of up to 135mph – 99mph over the speed limit – without his lights or sirens on one of four occasions he was speeding on May 18 before smashing into the side of the Focus.
Oliva Flores, 18, who was in the passenger seat, was killed. Five others were injured but survived.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This week, Roper was charged with involuntary manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide and five counts of criminal driving causing serious bodily harm – gross negligence.
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Olivia Flores, 18, was killed in a May 18 crash involving a speeding Minnesota State Trooper. (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
Flores’ family said in a July 10 statement via a GoFundMe organizer that this week “has been very difficult to deal with.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“To learn that they lost their only daughter in a car accident that wasn’t an accident is a new and painful experience,” said organizer Michael Otte. “To say they had to relive it all is an understatement.”
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“An accident can be forgiven with time, but gross and repeated negligence is another story. This was 100% avoidable.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“The question of why remains constantly unanswered, and it is a question to which they will never have an answer.”
Olivia Flores, 18, was a high school cheerleader hanging out with her friends when she was killed by a speeding state trooper in May. (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
Amber Will, who took the photos of Oliva Flores for her graduation portraits, told Fox News Digital: “Even in that short time frame, it was obvious that she was a vibrant, sweet girl.” (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
Flores’ death “shook the community,” said photographer Amber Will, who shared photos of Flores in her cheerleading uniform and glamour shots for her graduation photos with Fox News Digital.
“I had the pleasure of taking portraits of Olivia at the end of her career,” Will told Fox News Digital. “Even in that short time, it was obvious that she was a vibrant, sweet girl who was also a lot of fun.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Seeing the outpouring of love and grief from our community in response to this tragedy is a testament to the many people who knew and loved her.”
Two friends of Flores were injured in the accident, and three other people in a third car were also injured.
Olivia Flores, 18, was killed in May in a crash with a state trooper. (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
Olivia Flores, 18, was a cheerleader at Owatonna High School in Minnesota. (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
Accusations
Flores was with his friends heading to a mall when Roper allegedly crashed the Focus at 83 mph in a 40 mph zone, the Olmsted County District Attorney’s Office said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Officer Roper maintained maximum speed without lights or sirens,” the bureau said in a news release. “The investigation revealed that Officer Roper did not release maximum speed until the Focus entered the intersection, approximately 1.4 seconds before impact.”
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“Private Roper’s vehicle violently struck the Focus.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It was the fourth time Roper had driven above the speed limit, including an incident where he reached a top speed of 135 mph, according to prosecutors.
“Olivia Flores was a truly special young woman. To know her is to be inspired by her. She was fierce and loyal. She was beautiful to the core of her soul,” her family said. (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
A Minnesota state trooper has been charged in the death of Olivia Flores. (Amber Will/Photography by Amber Will)
A law firm representing Flores’ family, Restovich Braun and Associates, said in a two-page statement that Roper had a “documented history of shocking, dangerous and illegal conduct while on duty.”
The firm said Roper had been penalized for four previous crashes “due to excessive speed, distracted driving or both.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Rochester Police Department released the following statement on Facebook following the fatal crash.
Rochester, Minnesota, police released the information after the fatal crash involving state trooper Shane Roper, who was criminally charged in July. (Rochester, Minnesota Police Department/Facebook)
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“Officer Roper, by so grossly violating his duty, caused the death of a young woman who was celebrating her upcoming high school graduation,” Olmsted County District Attorney Mark Ostrem said in a statement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Several other people were seriously injured. Roper’s conduct violated the core values of the State Police. As with any other person who drives recklessly and disregards the basic rules of the road, Mr. Roper’s conduct cannot be tolerated.”
State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic expressed her condolences to Flores’ family and those affected by the crash and said Roper was on paid leave while the case proceeds over the “concerning” allegations, the Associated Press reported.
Roper’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
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