A police officer in Minnesota has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a high school cheerleader in May who was out enjoying the birthday of a friend.
In a Facebook post on May 20, Rochester police said Olivia Flores, 18, died in a “fatal crash” in Rochester, Minn., on May 18. Her friends were also hurt.
The Minnesota State Patrol Trooper who was involved in the crash has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide in connection with her death, the Olmsted County Attorney’s office said in a statement on July 9.
Roper hit a Ford Focus outside of a mall while chasing a “traffic violator” in the area. According to a statement from Olmsted County on Tuesday, Roper “turned off his emergency lights and sirens and accelerated to full throttle,” which is more than twice the speed limit.
According to the statement, the investigation showed that Trooper Roper’s car hit the Focus very hard.
Rochester police say that Flores’ friends Angelina Bartz, 21, and Katarina Bartz, 19, were also hurt in the crash. Roper’s ride-along friend and two people in a third car that was involved in the crash were also hurt.
A GoFundMe page set up for the Bartz sisters says that Flores and her friends were on a “fun outing for Katarina’s birthday” when the accident happened.
In a different GoFundMe page set up for her family, friends and family said that Flores was going to graduate soon.
An appeal for help for the family said, “Steph and Carlos are left to pick up the pieces of this tragedy instead of planning Olivia’s graduation party and celebrating her next chapter in life.”
On the same GoFundMe page, Flores is called a “special young lady” who was fierce and loyal.
On the GoFundMe page, someone wrote, “To know her is to be inspired by her.” They also said, “She was beautiful down to her soul.”
A Facebook group for the Owatonna High School Huskies says Flores was a cheerleader for the team.
The team wrote on Facebook after her death, “She touched many lives and our lives will forever be changed because she made them brighter.”
As shown by another Facebook post, the team has come together to support events that raise money “to help her family out and keep her name alive.”
At this point, it’s not clear if Roper has made a plea or hired a lawyer to speak for him.