Minnesota State Patrol Terminates Trooper After Investigation Finds ‘No Justification’ for Driving in Fatal May Crash

(KNSI) – Investigators with the Minnesota State Patrol say there was “no justification” for how Trooper Shane Roper was driving before a fatal crash in May and have since terminated his employment.

The 32-year-old Roper was trying to stop a speeding driver when he drove off Highway 52 and onto a road near the Apache Mall. The speed limit on that road was 40 miles an hour. Roper was traveling around 80 miles an hour, did not have his emergency lights or sirens activated and plowed into a car, killing 18-year-old Olivia Flores of Owatonna and injuring five other people. A total of three other cars were involved in the crash.

Officials with the state patrol say Roper’s actions “severely compromised his integrity and public trust” and showed “a disregard” for the Patrol’s traffic safety mission. They add that his driving was “reckless” and that Roper used “poor judgement” when driving in that area at such a high rate of speed. He was also allegedly not wearing his seatbelt at the time.

This was not Roper’s first instance of inappropriate driving conduct. He has been disciplined four times for reckless driving.

He is facing nine charges, including criminal vehicular homicide in this case. He has pleaded not guilty.

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