A Northbrook man faces a litany of charges, including felony reckless homicide and DUI, in a car crash that claimed the life of a Glenview teenager last May. Taeyoung Kim, the 21-year-old accused, allegedly hit speeds of at least 100 mph on the fateful night of the collision. According to the Chicago Tribune, the crash, which occurred on East Lake Avenue, resulted in the death of Marko Niketic, a 17-year-old senior at Glenbrook South High School (GBS), and serious injuries to his girlfriend.
Kim, residing on the 3700 block of Salem Walk in Northbrook, plowed into Niketic's vehicle, splitting it in half and leading to Niketic's instantaneous death. ABC 7 Chicago reported that Kim's dashboard camera allegedly captured him reaching speeds of 131 miles per hour in a 35-mph zone right before the tragic event unfolded. Post-crash investigation revealed that Kim had both alcohol and cannabis in his system.
On August 15, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lorraine Murphy denied Kim's petition for pre-trial release, as per the Chicago Tribune. Consequently, Kim will remain in jail awaiting his next court date. Eyewitness accounts of the high-speed collision describe it as a shockingly violent event, with the force of the impact notably severing the late model Mercedes, which belonged to Niketic.
Taeyoung Kim will face his charges on August 27 as he returns to court, representing a sobering example of how life's trajectory can be devastatingly, and irrevocably, altered by a single reckless decision. As detailed by the Chicago Tribune, Kim pleads not guilty to all charges, which include reckless homicide and aggravated driving under the influence causing great bodily harm, amongst others.
