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By Estelle Timar-Wilcox

The trial of a former state trooper involved in a fatal crash is moving ahead, as prosecutors and the trooper have failed to reach a plea deal.

Former trooper Shane Roper, 33, appeared in Olmsted County District Court for a hearing Thursday. He pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and criminal vehicular operation. He had previously entered the same plea.

The crash happened near Apache Mall in Rochester last May. Roper was allegedly driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit without his lights activated when he hit another car. Both vehicles continued through the intersection and hit a third car.

18-year-old Olivia Flores of Owatonna, who was in the first car hit, was killed in the crash. Five other people were hurt.

Roper’s attorneys have requested to move the trial, arguing that widespread press coverage in Olmsted County has potentially biased residents who could serve on the jury. Prosecutors are opposing that motion. Judge Lisa Hayne set an Aug. 20 hearing date to discuss.

The defense had also recently motioned to dismiss the case, which Hayne denied.

Hayne also ruled that prosecutors will be allowed to present evidence of Roper’s driving history. Disciplinary records from the state patrol show that Roper had crashed his squad car four times previously, and been suspended twice. The defense had motioned to block this evidence from being used during the trial.

Roper left the patrol in September. The agency has not said whether he quit or was fired.

Roper also faces a lawsuit from Flores’ family.

On Thursday, the court set a tentative trial date for March 2026. That could change if the court agrees to move it to another county.