CHARLTON, Mass. — Massachusetts State Police are mourning the loss of one of their own after a serious crash. Around noon Trooper Thomas Clardy, 44, was killed on the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike after pulling over another car.
Clardy had pulled over a Chevy Tahoe and they were stopped in the breakdown lane when a Nissan Maxima driving fast in the left lane lost control and swerved right, passing all three lanes and rear-ending Trooper Clardy’s cruiser. His cruiser was pushed into the Tahoe with a lot of force and then bounced off onto the grassy side of the highway.
Clardy suffered traumatic injuries and received CPR and emergency first aid on scene, and was then taken by ambulance to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, where he died.
State Police say Clardy was a Marine Corps veteran and joined the Massachusetts State Police in April 2005. He leaves behind his wife, Reisa, and their six kids who are aged 4 to 17.
“Today we pray for them,” said Colonel Richard McKeon at a press conference. “The Massachusetts State Police are devastated for their loss. We will never be able to fill the hole that is left in their lives from this day forward, but they will always be part of our State Police family. We will forever hold them tight to our hearts, for the rest of their lives.”
The driver of the Maxima that caused the crash has been identified as David Njuguna, 30, of Webster, and he was taken by helicopter to UMass Medical Center with serious injuries. He is being charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stay in his lane. More charges may be added.
