Driver was speeding above 130 mph before Glenview crash that killed teen Marko Niketic: prosecutors

Taeyoung Kim has been ordered to remain in custody. A 16-year-old girl was critically injured in the crash.

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team and Christian Piekos WLS logo
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Man drove at 131 mph before teen killed in Glenview crash: prosecutors
Taeyoung Kim of Northbrook has appeared in court for a Glenview crash that killed Glenbrook High School student Marko Niketic and injured two others.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Northbrook man charged in the the devastating Glenview car crash that killed 17-year-old Marko Niketic and injured another teen Sunday appeared in court Saturday.

Taeyoung Kim, 21, is charged with two counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence Causing Death, Reckless Homicide, Aggravated Driving Under the Influence Causing Great Bodily Harm, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Reckless Driving, Speeding, Driving without Lights, Improper Lane Usage, and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, according to Glenview police.

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During his appearance in court in Chicago on Saturday, Kim was ordered to remain in custody.

Kim's dashboard camera allegedly captured him driving recklessly before the crash, prosecutors said in court. He was allegedly driving at a speed of 131 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone right before the crash happened.

Prosecutors say Kim was also under the influence at the time of the crash. Niketic was killed and his girlfriend was critically injured.

According to court documents, Kim had alcohol and cannabis in his system. His attorney spoke after today's hearing, with Kim's parents at his side.

Kim and a passenger in his car were also injured in the crash.

The two-car crash happened just after 11 p.m. Sunday in the 1200-block of East Lake Avenue. Niketic was driving a Mercedes that was struck by a speeding Mustang, police said. The impact of the crash tore Niketic's car nearly in half, its entire trunk ripped away. The back end of the car landed in a neighbor's yard.

Niketic was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kim, the driver of the Mustang, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

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Residents of the quiet neighborhood said the crash sounded like an explosion.

Niketic was laid to rest on Thursday. He was a senior at Glenbrook South High School and was just days away from prom and weeks from graduation.

Since the crash, the police have not provided any updates on the conditions of the injured passengers.

Kim is due back in court on Friday.

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