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High school senior nearing graduation killed in crash after college student allegedly drove drunk at 131 mph

The lives of two young people in Illinois are forever changed after a fatal crash on Mother’s Day killed one and left another facing criminal charges.

Glenview Police say 21-year-old Taeyoung Kim was responsible for the crash that claimed the life of 17-year-old Marko Niketic. Kim made his first court appearance on Saturday, when a judge said the “fast and furious fatal accident” was a “blatant disregard for human life,” according to FOX 32Chicago.

The accident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on May 12 on East Lake Avenue between Meadow Lane, police said. Kim is accused of having alcohol and marijuana in his system when the dashboard camera of his 2021 Ford Mustang caught him running a red light and speeding from downtown Chicago onto a suburban street that has a 35 mph speed limit. .

Prosecutors said Kim’s speed reached 131 mph before the crash and that a witness saw Kim’s car turn off its headlights, according to the local station. Niketic was making a left turn onto Lake Avenue when Kim allegedly turned his headlights back on before crashing into the teen’s vehicle, court documents obtained by Chicago State NBC. The documents said Kim’s car was going 122 mph at the time of impact, destroying Niketic’s car.

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Taeyoung Kim, 21, faces multiple charges for the Mother’s Day crash that claimed the life of 7-year-old Marko Niketic. (Town of Glenview Police Department)

Niketic, a senior at Glenbrook South High School just days away from graduating, was pronounced dead at the scene. His girlfriend, who was his passenger, suffered injuries including a brain hemorrhage and a fractured pelvis, FOX32 reported.

Police say a passenger in Kim’s vehicle was also taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Fox News Digital contacted Glenview police for additional information, but they did not immediately respond.

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Marco Kinetic car in scene

Video captured at the scene shows the serious damage suffered by the car driven by Marco Niketic in the accident. (FOX 32 Chicago)

“He’s one of those people, you meet him and he’s radiant. The most genuine human being who ever lived,” Preston Shute told NBC Chicago about Niketic. “I had a lot going on. I can’t really process it.”

Marko Niketic died in an alleged accident due to driving under the influence of alcohol

Marko Niketic was days away from experiencing prom and graduation, a highlight for any high school senior.

Kim’s lawyer spoke outside court Saturday alongside what appeared to be devastated parents.

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“He blames himself a lot as a father, perhaps due to lack of supervision,” the lawyer said.

Kim faces charges including two counts of aggravated driving under the influence and reckless homicide, FOX32 reported, and his next court date is set for May 24.


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