Kenyan Man, David Njuguna, Sentenced to 5-7 Years in Prison for a Car Crash that Killed a Massachusetts State Trooper

A Kenyan man convicted in the death of a Massachusetts State Trooper in a vehicle crash was on Thursday sentenced to 5-7 years in prison.

33-year-old David Njuguna of Webster, MA was found guilty on November 12 in Worcester Superior Court of three charges including involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide, and operating a motor vehicle to endanger, in a crash that killed Trooper Thomas Clardy on March 16, 2016.

Njuguna’s car, which was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton, slammed into the back of Trooper Clardy’s cruiser during a traffic stop.

Prosecutors said Njuguna was high on marijuana at the time of the crash and wanted him convicted on two additional charges, both felonies - operating under the influence and motor vehicle homicide. The judge said although there was evidence on THC in Njuguna’s body and a burnt joint in his car, the prosecution did not prove that Njuguna was impaired by marijuana at the time of the crash.

Njuguna, who has been held in jail since March, 2016, was given credit for the 1,283 days served while awaiting trial.