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 Chicago teenage boy who was killed when a speeding Mustang crashed into his car last weekend.

Marko Niketic, Glenbrook South High School senior, was killed on May 12 in a car wreck allegedly 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 showed up to the crash site along East Lake Avenue in Glenview, Illinois, CBS Chicago reported.

The roadside memorial grew all week - with large crowds of classmates paying their respects and leaving flowers, cards, candles, and pictures of Niketic.

Officers had to shut down one lane of traffic on East Lake Avenue where the memorial was to keep the dozens of mourners safe. 

Dozens of people gather to honor Niketic's life after his tragic death

Marko Niketic, 17, and his girlfriend were driving together when Niketic's Mercedes was hit by a Mustang. Niketic died at the scene and his girlfriend was transported to hospital with serious brain injuries. She was released from the hospital Friday

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

'He had an energy and a charisma to bring children and people together – children of all ages,' said Fr. Darko Spasojevich, dean and priest at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. 

Spasojevich, who knows Niketic personally, added: 'He was always with smile – very open, very smart, really gifted.'

Loved ones told CBS Chicago that Niketic, who was set to graduate this month and attend Miami University in the fall, had wanted to become an entrepreneur and was already well on way to becoming one.

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

Niketic leaves behind his parents, Gordana and Nebojsa, his brother Luka and his extended family residing in both the US and Serbia, according to his obituary.

His funeral was held on Thursday at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville. 

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

Kim was driving his 2021 Ford Mustang on East Lake Avenue at a speed of 131 mph in a 35-mph zone when collided 

The victim's silver Mercedes torn into half after the crash 

Niketic was driving his silver Mercedes last Sunday and was accompanied by his 17-year-old girlfriend, who remains unidentified. 

According to police, Kim was driving his 2021 Ford Mustang on East Lake Avenue at a speed of 131 mph in a 35-mph zone when he collided with Niketic at an intersection - leaving the victim's silver Mercedes torn into half.

The accused's dashboard camera had allegedly captured 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 the hospital with serious brain and spinal injuries. She was released from the hospital on Friday, according to court documents.

Niketic's girlfriend suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, hematoma of the brain, a fracture of the pelvis vertebrae and hyper-density of the left frontal lobe of the brain with loss of consciousness and seizure due to the crash

Niketic, a Glenbrook South High School senior, reportedly had plans to become an entrepreneur. He was going to attend Miami University but hadn't picked an area of study yet

Police said that Kim's blood-alcohol level was far above the legal limit.

Witness Nathan Clark described: 'He was probably going about 90 (miles per hour) whenever he sped in front of me.

'If I had to guess, he floored it and turned off his lights.

'There was no reason for it. I don't think it was like road rage or anything. I think he just wanted to go fast and (was) being reckless.'

Preston Shute, Niketic's close friend, said: 'He was the most genuine human I've ever met.

'That was my best friend and it's really hard to process right now.'

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

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