Witness testifies he saw suspect shaking before crash that killed trooper

A key witness took the stand in defense of the man accused of causing the crash that killed State Police Trooper Thomas Clardy.

In day five of testimony, a second defense witness took the stand before the state rests. Michael Russell was driving a Mack truck on the Mass Pike westbound the day Clardy was killed. Russell testified he first saw David Njuguna in his rear-view mirror coming down the Pike in a black Nissan Maxima.

Russell said he saw the suspect's vehicle veer across the three lanes of traffic and barrel right into the back of the Clardy's cruiser. Russell said he never saw a turn signal, swerving, or any brake lights.

Prosecutors say Njuguna was under the influence of marijuana, but Njuguna's defense is that he was actually having a seizure.

Russell was asked what he saw when he ran up to the suspect's door.

"I seen the person in the car shaking," he said.

Russell was asked if Njuguna's eyes were open, but Russell said he didn't recall.

When asked to describe the shaking, Russell said Njuguna was "like really shaking."

A truck driver who witnessed crash is on the stand for the defense. He saw the suspect’s car come up the left lane quickly and then veer across 3 lanes and into back of Trooper Clardy’s cruiser. The truck driver testified when he ran up to vehicle the suspect was “shaking”.
— Robert Goulston (@rgoulston) October 25, 2019