Vicco Man Charged With Murder After Teen Girl Dies in UTV Crash

Noah Back, 26, of Vicco, was arrested at his home at approximately 1:30 p.m. on March 21 and charged with murder in the death of 16-year-old Emilynn Clark, who was killed in a UTV crash on Oakwood Avenue in Vicco on Feb. 28.

The crash occurred at approximately 9 p.m. when four people, two teenage girls and two adult men, were riding in a side-by-side vehicle owned by Back. One of the teenage girls was driving when she lost control, sending the vehicle over a hill and down an embankment. Clark died at the scene. One adult passenger was airlifted to a trauma center with serious injuries.

The investigation that followed focused heavily on surveillance footage pulled from Ramey's gas station in Vicco. Perry County Sheriff Joe Engle said Deputy Everidge obtained video in the days after the crash showing Back purchasing alcohol and placing it into the possession of the 16-year-old. Receipts confirming the purchase were also obtained. Authorities additionally served a search warrant for Back's cellphone. Charges were delayed while investigators waited on toxicology results from the Kentucky State Police laboratory.

The Perry County Coroner's Office said preliminary autopsy results show Clark was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of her death.

The teenage driver was charged with driving under the influence. Engle said investigators do not intend to pursue additional charges against the juvenile beyond the DUI.

After reviewing the evidence and conferring with Commonwealth's Attorney John Hansen, Engle said the threshold for a murder charge had been met. "Hansen advised that we proceed with a charge of murder," Engle said. "We and he believe there is probable cause that Noah Back purchased alcohol for a child, then allowed the intoxicated child to operate an ATV she in no way should have been allowed to operate due to intoxication and not being able to control a vehicle in the circumstances. We believe Back's actions created a situation that exhibited extreme indifference to human life and resulted in the death of Clark. Back being an adult created the situation as the culpable person in the death of Clark."

Back was booked into the Kentucky River Regional Jail following his arrest. The case remains under investigation.