Massachusetts State Police trooper seriously injured in hit-and-run released from hospital

The trooper who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash on the side of the Mass Pike last week has been released from the hospital.

Mass State Police Trooper Sean Clark was transferred to a physical rehabilitation facility where he will continue his recovery, MSP announced on Monday.

Clark was conducting a traffic stop at around 2:20 a.m. last Tuesday when a 32-year-old woman allegedly struck him with her vehicle on the side of I-90 west in Chicopee. She was allegedly driving drunk.

The trooper was rushed with serious injuries to Baystate Medical Center, which is a level 1 trauma center. Less than a week later, he was released from the hospital and transferred to the rehab facility.

Mass State Police on Monday posted a photo of a smiling Clark with a thumbs up.

“On behalf of Trooper Clark, we would like to thank everyone who has reached out with well wishes for him and his family,” Mass State Police posted.

“We continue to wish Trooper Clark the best in his recovery and remind all drivers to remember to move over when they see a first responder on the side of the road,” MSP added.

Naisha Rodriguez, 32, of Springfield, was arrested in connection with the hit-and-run crash.

She was arraigned last week and charged with operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, misleading a police investigation, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing personal injury. Bail was set at $500,000.

Troopers assigned to the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene, along with an assistant district attorney assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Motor Vehicle Fatality Unit.

The Massachusetts State Police Employee Assistance Unit also responded to provide for the needs of first responders.

Detectives from the Hampden District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit and Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section-West were able to identify Rodriguez as a suspect, and arrested her at her residence in Springfield.

Recently on Beacon Hill, there was a bill hearing to strengthen the “Move Over Law” — with the goal of increasing safety on the roads.

Under the current law, a driver violating the Move Over Law can face a $100 fine.

The proposed bill would establish a $250 fine for a first offense, a $500 fine for a second offense, and a $1,000 fine for a third or subsequent offense. Also, any violation that results in injury to another person could be punished by a fine of $2,500 or up to one year in jail.