Driver sentenced to 5-7 years in crash that killed MSP Trooper Clardy

WORCESTER, Mass. — A Massachusetts man blamed for causing the death of a state police trooper has been sentenced to five to seven years in prison with credit for spending more than three years in custody during the legal proceedings.

David Njuguna was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter last week in the March 2016 death of Trooper Thomas Clardy.

For the count of involuntary manslaughter, Njuguna was sentenced to five to seven years. The sentences for the three lesser counts will run concurrent to that.

Judge Janet Kenton-Walker cleared Njuguna of OUI manslaughter and felony motor vehicle homicide because prosecutors hadn't proved he was high on pot at the time of the crash.

Family of Trooper Clardy delivered victim impact statements in person and in writing at the sentencing.

"Thomas Clardy was a 44-year-old man who had his whole life ahead of him," the late trooper's wife, Reisa Clardy, said in court. "Words alone cannot describe the loss...the day I was told my husband was killed was the day my life stood still."

Clardy's son Tyler spoke next.

"There is a certain loss one feels when losing a parent. It is immense at first," he said. "It permeates into the smallest moments. That is where I most miss my father."

His daughter, Gabriela Clardy, began, "I was fourteen years old when I lost my father and It haunts me everyday."  She soon broke down in tears and Tyler continued the statement.

Reisa read a letter written by another daughter to her late father. Clardy's brother submitted a written victim impact statement to be entered into the record.

A letter written by Trooper Clardy's sister, Michelle Clardy, was read by an attorney.

Njuguna's attorney delivered a lengthy statement about his three years in custody. Noting he was arrested before he had a chance to turn himself in and was afraid of what would happen without having consulted an attorney.

"I don't think any sentence I give is going to deter anybody from driving recklessly on the highways of the Commonwealth," Judge Kenton-Walker said as she began explaining her sentence.

Prosecutors said the 33-year-old Webster man was speeding and high on pot when he struck Clardy's stopped cruiser on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton in 2016.

The defendant's lawyers say he had some sort of medical issue that caused a seizure and made him lose control of his vehicle.

With credit for 1,283 days, according to the court, Njuguna could remain in jail for two and a half years or as many as four and a half years.

Following the sentencing, Reisa Clardy issued the following statement on her and her family's behalf:

"My family and I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest gratitude towards the Massachusetts State Police. Your continued support throughout this difficult time provided our family with a sense of comfort and reassurance. Words alone can not convey how much your acts of kindness and compassion truly meant.

We would like to thank all the Troopers who showed up throughout the trial inside and outside the courtroom. Your presence was immensely heartfelt. Tom would be humbled to know that his State Police family was looking after us.

Forever Grateful,
Reisa, Tyler, Gabryella, Lily, Emma, Eva and Noah"

Previous stories from the trial:

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