Ex-Trooper’s Trial For Fatal Rochester Crash Moved to March 2027
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The trial of a former state trooper accused of causing a fatal crash in Rochester has been pushed back to next March.
Former Trooper Faces Multiple Felony Charges
Thirty-four-year-old Shane Roper appeared before a judge in Olmsted County Court this afternoon on felony charges of second-degree manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide, and criminal vehicular operation connected to a multi-vehicle crash in May 2024 that claimed the life of an Owatonna high school student.
READ MORE: Ex Minnesota Trooper Charged in Owatonna Teen’s Death
Judge Sets New Trial Date in Fatal Crash Case
The judge scheduled the Hayfield man's trial to begin the week of March 1, 2027, following a pretrial hearing on February 23.
This is the third scheduled start date for the trial. It was originally scheduled for March of last year, and after that date proved unworkable, the proceedings were rescheduled for March of this year. That date was also scuttled as the court considered a request to move the trial out of Olmsted County, which was ultimately rejected.
READ MORE: Change of Venue Motion Delays Trial of Former Trooper Shane Roper
Oliva Flores GoFundMe page/Canva
Crash Claimed Life of Owatonna Teen
According to the charges, Roper caused the collision that killed 18-year-old Olivia Flores by speeding at more than 80 mph in his State Patrol squad car without the emergency lights activated. The deadly collision, which occurred at the entrance to Apache Mall in Rochester just weeks before the young victim was set to graduate from high school, resulted in injuries to five other people, including Roper.
Roper's next court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
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