Illinois High School Senior Killed by Speeding Drunk Driver Ahead of Graduation

An Illinois car crash has left a Glenbrook South High School student, Marko Niketic, dead after immediately succumbing to injuries.

Niketic, 17, a high school senior, lost his life in a devastating car crash caused by a drunk driver, while his passenger, his 16-year-old girlfriend, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries.

The incident occurred in Glenview, Illinois, and has shaken the Glenbrook South High School community as they prepare to honor Marko at their upcoming graduation ceremony.

Illinois High School Senior Killed

Taeyoung Kim, aged 21, faced serious charges following a tragic incident on Mother's Day.

According to the Glenview Police Department's statement, Kim allegedly caused the death of Marko Niketic, a senior at Glenbrook South High School, due to his actions while driving a 2021 Ford Mustang earlier that day.

The charges against Kim, included two counts of aggravated DUI causing death, reckless homicide, aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, reckless driving, speeding, driving without lights when required, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and improper lane usage.

Reports indicated that the fatal crash occurred at approximately 11 p.m. when Kim's vehicle, traveling at a high speed, collided with Marko's near an intersection.

Tragically, Marko lost his life at the scene, while passengers from both vehicles sustained critical injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Kim himself suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was subsequently hospitalized. Glenview police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

One of the passengers in Niketic's vehicle was identified as his girlfriend, who suffered severe injuries including a brain bleed and a broken pelvis.

Following his arrest on Friday evening, Kim faced a bond court hearing on Saturday, where he was ordered to remain in custody.

He was charged with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI causing death and great bodily harm, reckless driving, speeding, DUI with a blood alcohol concentration over .08, DUI involving drugs, improper lane usage, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Drunk Driver's Legal Proceedings

During Taeyoung Kim's court hearing, details from the bond court proffer revealed that a search warrant had been executed on the vehicle's black box.

The data showed Kim's car was traveling at an alarming 131 miles per hour just 2.5 seconds before impact, with the recorded speed at the time of the collision registering at 122 miles per hour.

Notably, the listed speed limit on Lake Avenue in that area stands at 35 miles per hour.

At the time of the incident, Kim possessed a valid driver's license and had no prior criminal record apart from two minor traffic violations in Lake County from 2021, one for speeding and the other for disregarding a traffic control device, for which he received supervision.

During Kim's initial court appearance, Judge David Kelly characterized the crash as a fast, furious, and deadly accident.

The judge remarked on Kim's deliberate use of his vehicle as a weapon, highlighting a blatant disregard for human life.

Kim's attorney, James Kuhn, conveyed his client's father's sentiments, expressing sincere apologies and condolences to all the victims' families.

Kuhn mentioned that Kim's father takes some responsibility for what happened, reflecting on potential lapses in supervision.

Marko Niketic's obituary mournfully stated that he would be dearly missed by his Kumovi, family, and friends in both the United States and Serbia.

At Marko's funeral, his father, Darko Spasojevic, remembered him as an active and cherished member of their community, emphasizing his warm personality, intelligence, and ability to bring people together.

Glenbrook South High School's upcoming graduation is scheduled for June 2 at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois, according to the school's website.

A spokesperson from Glenbrook High School District 225 confirmed that Marko would have been among the graduating students but declined to provide further comments to the media.