BOSTON (AP) – The widow of a state trooper killed by a driver accused of smoking marijuana before the crash is making an emotional plea against a ballot question that would legalize recreational marijuana.
Trooper Thomas Clardy, a father of seven, was killed in March when a medical marijuana patient crashed his vehicle into Clardy’s cruiser. In a new web video, Reisa Clardy said she believes there will be more accidents and more fatalities if voters approve Question 4 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The driver, David Njuguna, of Webster, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, operating under the influence of drugs and other charges in Thomas Clardy’s death. When he was arraigned in May, Njuguna’s lawyer, Peter Ettenberg, said Njuguna “absolutely denies he was under the influence of any drugs.” Ettenberg declined to comment further Tuesday.
Reisa Clardy said her husband was “a wonderful father” who always put his family first. She said his death changed their family’s lives.
“My husband’s not here anymore. Daddy’s not going to come walking through that door one day,” she said in the video.