The loss of Massachusetts State Police trooper Thomas Clardy, a father of six and a decorated police officer, is being felt deeply throughout the law enforcement community and beyond.
Those who know the man accused of crossing three lanes of traffic and rear-ending Clardy on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton Wednesday, killing him, say they're surprised.
Neighbors of 30-year-old David Njuguna of Webster say he was mostly quiet and kept to himself, but some did have issues with his cars.
"I'm very saddened by that," said one neighbor, Eric Toussaint. "That's awful. I would never imagine it would be somebody from the first floor."
"I know he used to work for FedEx and he doesn't work there any longer," Jerry Mason, who lives above Njuguna, said. "We've had a few battles over the years because he seems to own three vehicles and he kind of takes up all the parking spaces in the back."
Necn obtained Njuguna's driving record - which not only shows a license suspension for refusing a breathalizer test in 2013, but now shows that his license has been revoked following Wednesday's fatal accident.
"As towards his driving, I've never seen anything out of the ordinary," said Njuguna's next door neighbor, Vanessa Baldyga. "He always slows down for the kids."
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State police have served Njuguna with a criminal summons, charging him with negligent operation of a vehicle and failure to stay in marked lanes.
Njuguna remains at UMass Memorial Medical Center recovering from serious injuries he sustained in the crash.
"I hope he gets what he deserves for killing the cop, anyways," said another neighbor, Wendy Kastberg.
Police confirm Njuguna is a legal permanent resident of the U.S. He is expected to be arraigned in Dudley District Court once he's out of the hospital.
The crash remains under investigation and he could face additional charges.
Clardy's wake is scheduled for Monday, and his funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, both in his hometown of Hudson.
