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Hudson Neighborhood Devastated By Death Of State Trooper

HUDSON (CBS) - It's the most devastating news, and it became clear when Massachusetts State Police troopers moved in to his Hudson neighborhood to guard and support the family of Trooper Thomas Clardy.

"When I saw state troopers I knew something didn't feel right. My heart goes out to them," said neighbor James Cabral.

His wife Kelly teaches one of the trooper's children. "It's going to be hard for them knowing their Dad was doing exactly what he signed up to do," she tells WBZ-TV.

They knew that just after noon a trooper was seriously injured in an accident on the Mass. Turnpike in Charlton, only to later learn it was their neighbor who died from his severe injuries.

The father of seven children was a fixture in the neighborhood. "It's a shock because there's a lot of young children," said neighbor Tom Walsh. "They had just settled into the home, he was a hard working dedicated father. He was a father 100 percent."

For 19-year-old Joey Durant, Clardy embodied love, leadership and bravery. "We were so close. He meant so much to me. He taught me so much," Durant said. "He was a great dad, great friend."

News of the crash and the trooper's tragic death came as a devastating blow Durant who is close friend's with Clardy's oldest son.

"It's devastating. It's just awful. When I first heard the news it was terrible. I was crying a lot."

WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports

Timothy Cabral was a high school classmate of one of his daughters. "Now we have to embrace it. We have to make sure everybody knows it and helps get them through tough times," he said.

It was troopers who were at his side from the accident scene to the hospital. Clardy's neighbors are shocked by the circumstances, a tragic accident in the line of duty.

Neighbors say they are grateful for his service. "Our town, our state and country is fortunate to have dedicated people like that. He was dedicated to his job and also dedicated to his family," said Walsh.

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