Thousands attend service of Massachusetts State Trooper

Thousands mourned the loss of Massachusetts State Trooper Thomas Clardy on Tuesday in his central Massachusetts hometown of Hudson.

Clardy, 44, died from his injuries suffered on March 16 during a traffic stop on the Massachusetts Turnpike. A car struck his cruiser as he was stopping another vehicle, according to WCVB.

Colonel Richard McKeon, the force’s superintendent, made the announcement in a news conference on the afternoon of March 16. He said that officers are “devastated for their loss.”

State police officials said that as many as 10,000 uniformed officers from across the country were expected to attend the services at St. Michael’s Church in Hudson.

Clardyis survived by his wife and six children, who are between the ages of 4 and 17 according to McKeon in the news conference. Clardy was a veteran of the Marines and joined the State Police force in 2005.

David Njuguna, 30, of Webster, wascharged following the crash, CBS Boston reported. He was seriously injured in the crash andremains at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

During the service, retired State Police Sgt. Al Toney gave the eulogy, according to CBS Boston.Fellow Trooper Jamie Magariangave a tearful farewell to Clardy.

“Remember that champions never quit. They just run out of time,” Magarian said.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Trooper Clardycanbe made to: The Clardy Children’s Fund, C/O Avidia Bank, 42 Main St., Hudson, MA 01749.