US: High school student nearing graduation killed in accident in Illinois, his car split into two, 1 arrested

A 17-year-old high school student died in an accident when his car was hit by a speeding vehicle, whose driver was allegedly drunk, and split into two in a Chicago suburb. Taeyoung Kim, a 21-year-old driver, was arrested and charged with the accident.

The accident occurred at an intersection on May 12 after 11 pm (local time) when the victim, Marko Niketic, was driving with his 16-year-old girlfriend in Glenview, Illinois. Niketic was expected to graduate on June 2, The New York Post reported.

Kim had been driving his 2021 Ford Mustang with a passenger from his home in Northbrook to downtown Chicago and back earlier in the day, a report by NBC Chicago said. Kim’s car rammed Niketic’s vehicle at a speed of 193 km/hour as the latter was making a left turn through the intersection, according to court records.

“The investigation revealed that at 11:08 pm on May 12, Kim drove his vehicle westbound on East Lake Avenue, at a high rate of speed in a reckless manner,” the Glenview Police Department said.

The front side of Kim’s car hit the driver’s side of Niketic’s vehicle, causing it to split into two. According to an eyewitness, Kim had been racing past other cars at increased speed and turning off his headlights.

“As Niketic began turning, Kim’s vehicle approached the intersection at an immense rate of speed, still with the headlights off. Just as Kim was entering the intersection, the headlights turned back on as Kim’s vehicle crashed into Niketic’s vehicle,” the court records said.

The front half of Niketic’s car remained on the road while the back half was sent flying and landed in a backyard after hitting a nearby fence.

Witnesses called 911 following the accident and saw Niketic lifelessly lying inside his car. Others saw Kim sitting inside his car while his passenger was lying on the ground and bleeding profusely. Kim admitted later that he had been drinking.

While Niketic was pronounced dead at the scene, his girlfriend and Kim’s passenger were rushed to a hospital in a critical condition.

Niketic’s girlfriend, whose identity was not known, suffered brain injuries and a fracture of the pelvis vertebrae. Kim’s passenger got a fracture to his back and a severed artery.

On the other hand, Kim himself suffered a broken femur and a breathalyser test found that he had a blood alcohol level of .088 and the presence of cannabis in his system.

Kim was arrested on Friday and charged with two counts of aggravated drunken driving, causing death, reckless homicide, causing bodily harm and violating traffic rules, including speeding over the prescribed limit of 56.3 km/hour.

Police found a bong, rolling papers, a one-hitter cannabis pipe with residue and two plastic containers with cannabis residue inside Kim’s vehicle during the investigation.

Kim was produced before a court on Saturday and was being held without bond. His next court appearance was scheduled for May 24, The New York Post reported.

Niketic’s last rites were conducted on Thursday, two days before his high school, Glenbrook South, held its prom, the report said.