Hundreds gather to mourn Chicago high schooler Marko Niketic, 17, killed when Mustang rammed into his Mercedes

More than 100 people gathered for a vigil for a teenage Chicago boy who was killed last weekend when a speeding Mustang crashed into his car.

Glenbrook South High School senior Marko Niketic was killed May 12 in a car crash believed to have been caused by Taeyoung Kim, 21, who police say was driving the Mustang that crashed into Niketic’s Mercedes.

Dozens of friends, family, neighbors and members of Niketic’s church all came to the crash site along East Lake Avenue in Glenview, Illinois, CBS Chicago reported.

The roadside memorial grew throughout the week – with large crowds of classmates paying their respects and leaving flowers, cards, candles and photos of Niketic.

Officers had to close one lane of East Lake Avenue, where the monument stood, to keep the dozens of mourners safe.

Marko Niketic, 17, and his girlfriend were riding together when Niketic’s Mercedes was hit by a Mustang. Niketic died on the spot and his girlfriend was transported to hospital with serious brain injuries. She was released from the hospital on Friday

Pictured: The crash site memorial for Niketic, populated with flowers, cards and photos of the young boy

“He had the energy and the charisma to bring children and people together – children of all ages,” said Fr. Darko Spasojevich, dean and priest of the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection.

Spasojevich, who knows Niketic personally, added: “He was always smiling – very open, very smart, really gifted.”

Family members told CBS Chicago that Niketic, who was set to graduate this month and attend Miami University in the fall, wanted to be an entrepreneur and was already well on his way to becoming one.

‘You think about your own child. You think in terms of life – what it means to us as a gift that we often take for granted,” Spasojevich said. “But now you realize what a gift it is, and how it can suddenly disappear.”

Niketic is survived by his parents, Gordana and Nebojsa, his brother Luka and his extended family who live in both the US and Serbia. his obituary.

His funeral took place Thursday at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville.

Taeyoung Kim, 21, was taken into custody on Friday evening for allegedly causing the crash

Kim was driving his 2021 Ford Mustang on East Lake Avenue at 130 mph in a 56 mph zone when he collided

The victim’s silver Mercedes was torn in half after the crash

Niketic was driving his silver Mercedes last Sunday and was accompanied by his 17-year-old girlfriend, who has still not been identified.

According to police, Kim was driving his 2021 Ford Mustang on East Lake Avenue at 130 mph in a 55 mph zone when he collided at an intersection with Niketic, causing the victim’s silver Mercedes to crash into was torn in two.

The suspect’s dashboard camera showed him driving recklessly before the crash, prosecutors said.

Niketic was pronounced dead at the scene while Kim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Niketic’s girlfriend was transported to hospital with serious brain and back injuries. She was released from the hospital on Friday, according to court documents.

Niketic’s girlfriend suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, hematoma in the brain, a fracture of the pelvic vertebrae and hyperdensity of the left frontal lobe of the brain with loss of consciousness and seizures as a result of the crash

Niketic, a senior at Glenbrook South High School, reportedly had plans to become an entrepreneur. He was going to attend Miami University, but had not yet chosen an area of ​​study

Police said Kim’s blood alcohol level was well above the legal limit.

Witness Nathan Clark described, “He was probably going about 90 (miles per hour) when he was speeding in front of me.

“If I had to guess, he put the floor down and turned off his lights.

‘There was no reason for it. I don’t think it was road rage or anything. I think he just wanted to be fast and was reckless.”

Preston Shute, Niketic’s close friend, said, “He was the most genuine human being I have ever met.

“That was my best friend and it’s very difficult to process now.”

Kim was taken into custody Friday evening for causing the May 12 crash that killed Niketic. He appeared at a hearing on Saturday and was ordered to remain in custody.

He is charged with reckless homicide and multiple DUI-related crimes.