WORCESTER, Mass. — It is a day no of the troopers will ever forget - March 16, 2016.
When he heard the call over the radio, Trooper Scott Shea’s mind was racing.
“All I could think was, God not Tom. Anyone but Tom,” said Trooper Scott Shea.
The call was for a serious crash on the Mass Pike in Charlton. A driver had crossed three lanes of traffic and hit a Mass State Trooper’s vehicle in the breakdown lane in the middle of a traffic stop. The trooper, Thomas Clardy, was taken to the hospital via helicopter and later died from his injuries.
In one horrific moment, Mass State Police lost a fellow trooper, a leader, and a friend.
“It’s a huge hole. One that is tough to overcome,” said Shea.
Clardy left behind a wife and seven children. Months later, several of his fellow troopers are still thinking of their fallen friend, along with his wife and family.
“We want to make sure that they know, just because Tom has passed, that we're not going to forget him. We're not going to forget the family,” said Brian Frechette.
They said that beneath Clardy's tough exterior was guy who liked to make his fellow troopers laugh.
“It’s a tough job that we do. And you see horrific crashes, you see horrific crimes, sometimes the only way you can get around it is to have somebody in the room that breaks that tension, is the comedian,” said Shea.
In the honor of his humor, comedian Lenny Clarke and nine other comedians will take the stage at Worcester's Hanover Theatre. They are working for free and all tickets proceeds are going to Thomas Clardy's wife, who is now raising six children alone.
"It will be the first large gathering of people to remember Tom. Hopefully they'll be some great laughs. There'll probably be some tears. It an event we want to go well for Tom and his family," said Trooper John Fraioli.
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The night of comedy will be a tribute to Trooper Clardy, but it will also be a night of healing for the men and women of the Mass State Police.
Cox Media Group
