Corbin man gets three and a half years for fatal car crash

April 07--BARBOURVILLE -- A Corbin man charged in an October 2016 fatal crash was sentenced to three and a half years in prison Friday after previously accepting a plea agreement for a lesser sentence.

Joseph Clark, 64, was indicted in July 2017 on charges of reckless homicide, no operators license and failure of owner to maintain required insurance after he, operating a Chevrolet Camaro, allegedly attempted to pass another vehicle on the Corbin Bypass, causing a head-on collision with a Toyota Tacoma.

Both Clark and the driver of the Tacoma, identified as Roger Daugherty, 40, of Williamsburg had to be extricated from their vehicles before being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington for treatment.

Daugherty soon died from his injuries.

According to reports, a witness at the scene of the crash stated that when they saw Clark attempt to pass the other vehicle, he was allegedly in a no-passing zone.

The indictment also listed speed as a factor in the incident.

Clark was arrested in August 2017 following the indictment.

In March, Clark appeared in Knox County Circuit Court where he entered a guilty plea in exchange for amended charges per an agreement with the Commonwealth Attorney's office. With that agreement, the latter charges of no operators license and failure of owner to maintain required insurance would be dismissed, with the reckless homicide being the lone count.

In Kentucky, reckless homicide is listed as a Class D felony and is punishable by one to five years in prison and with a fine up to $10,000 or both.

The Commonwealth Attorney's office recommended Clark serve three and a half years in prison for the remaining charges.

Clark appeared once again in Knox County Circuit Court Friday afternoon to receive his formal sentence. Judge Michael Caperton formally sentenced Clark to three and a half years in prison for the remaining charges, as recommended by the Commonwealth Attorney's office.

Clark remains jailed at the Knox County Detention Center where he waits to be transported to a local penitentiary.

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