Owatonna teen killed, 6 injured in Rochester crash involving trooper’s squad car

An 18-year-old high school senior was killed in a three-vehicle crash in Rochester that left six others injured and involved a state trooper’s vehicle, officials said.

The wreck occurred about 5:45 p.m. Saturday near the entrance to the Apache Mall at SW. Memorial Parkway and SW. 12th Street and claimed the life of Olivia Flores of Owatonna, police said.

According to police:

Trooper Shane Roper, 32, was heading east on 12th Street and collided with a car, occupied by Flores, heading west and turning left into the mall. The car then struck an SUV that was leaving the mall and waiting to turn right.

Police have yet to say whether the trooper or the car’s driver had the right of way at the intersection, which is controlled by traffic signals.

In the car with Flores were the driver, 21-year-old Angelina Bartz, and 19-year-old Katarina Bartz, both of Owatonna.

In the SUV were driver Emie Pasco, 36, and 12-year-year-old Gabriella Parker, also both from Owatonna. Riding along with in the trooper squad was Peter Meyer, 20, of Zumbrota, Minn.

All seven people in the three vehicles were taken by emergency responders for treatment of their injuries, according to police. The only information released by police was that the SUV occupants sustained minor injuries.

Owatonna High School cheerleading said Flores, who was to graduate June 7, was a senior on the squad.

“It is with broken hearts we have to say goodbye to our Olivia,” the organization said on social media. “She was such an amazing cheerleader, friend and person. She touched many lives, and our lives will forever be changed from her brightening them.”

Michal Otte, who has organized an online fundraising effort on behalf of the Flores family, posted that “instead of planning Olivia’s graduation party and celebrating her next chapter in life, [her parents] are left picking up the pieces of this tragedy. Olivia was such a special young lady. To know her is to be inspired by her. She was fierce, and she was loyal. She was beautiful down to her soul.”

The head of the patrol, Col. Christina Bogojevic, released a statement Monday afternoon that read, “Making sure motorists are safe as they travel Minnesota’s roads is at the core of what we do each day. Our agency works hard to prevent crashes and save lives. On Saturday evening, a Minnesota State Patrol squad was involved in a crash in Rochester in which someone later died. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic event.”