RED WING — A Minnesota state trooper appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since being indicted on manslaughter charges in a Fourth of July crash that killed two people in Cannon Falls.

A Goodhue County grand jury indicted Scott Reps, 48, on two felony counts of second-degree manslaughter.

Reps was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Feb. 20.

He was indicted on Dec. 16, but the indictment was sealed until his court appearance. In addition to the two felony counts, he also faces one count of failure to drive with due care, a misdemeanor.

Reps was responding to a traffic accident involving a motorcyclist and a deer when a car driven by 78-year-old Norman Scott reportedly pulled out in front of the squad car. The trooper’s squad car slammed into the driver’s side.

Scott and his 79-year-old wife, Geneva Scott, died at the scene. Reps was airlifted to a Rochester hospital with serious injuries.

The indictment comes after a months-long investigation and days of testimony. The grand jury decided not to indict Reps on two additional counts of criminal vehicular homicide, the newspaper reported.

Goodhue County Attorney Stephen Betcher appointed Assistant Winona County Attorneys Kevin O’Laughlin and Stephanie Nuttall as prosecutors for the case.

“Troopers work hard every day to prevent crashes and save lives. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this devastating event,” State Patrol Lt. Col. Matt Langer said in a statement Tuesday.

A phone message left at Reps’ home was not immediately returned Tuesday evening.