Tragic Wedding Night Ends in DUI Crash
In a tragic case that has left a community grieving, Jamie Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges stemming from a DUI crash that killed bride Samantha Miller, 34, on her wedding night in April 2023. Komoroski, who was driving with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, crashed her car into a golf cart carrying the newlyweds, Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson, as they left their wedding reception in Folly Beach, South Carolina. The collision, which occurred in a 25 mph zone where Komoroski was driving 65 mph, resulted in Miller’s death and severe injuries to Hutchinson, including broken legs, facial fractures, and brain injuries.
During her court appearance, Komoroski accepted responsibility for her actions, pleading guilty to one count of felony DUI, two counts of DUI causing great bodily injury or death, and one count of reckless homicide. A judge sentenced her to 25 years in prison. “I take full responsibility for my actions,” Komoroski told the court. “For the rest of my life, I will carry this guilt.”
Family Speaks Out About Their Loss
The courtroom was filled with emotional testimonies from Samantha Miller’s family and her husband, Aric Hutchinson. Hutchinson, who survived the crash, expressed his pain and the deep void left by his wife’s death. “I feel like the punishment fits the crime,” he told WCSC after the sentencing. “But it doesn’t change the fact that Sam’s not here. My wife’s not here, the family we planned is gone.” He recounted the moments leading up to the crash, recalling his wife’s words, “She told me she didn’t want the night to end,” just hours before the tragedy struck.
Lisa Miller, Samantha’s mother, also shared her heartbreak, describing the final hug she gave her daughter during a wedding reception dance as a memory that continues to haunt her. The emotional weight of the testimonies underscored the profound impact of the loss on the Miller and Hutchinson families.
Legal and Financial Fallout
This case has also led to significant legal and financial implications. In June 2023, a South Carolina judge approved a $1.3 million partial settlement for the victims’ families from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchinson. The lawsuit alleged that Komoroski had spent the day engaging in “booze-filled bar hopping” and that the establishments serving her alcohol had failed to exercise due care. Several bars and the rental car company involved in the case have since agreed to settlements.
Despite the settlements, disputes remain. Hutchinson’s lawyer, Danny Dalton, revealed that the final amount received was reduced to $863,000 after fees due to an estate-related conflict between Hutchinson and Miller’s mother, who has challenged the legal validity of the couple’s marriage.
The tragedy has left lingering questions about accountability and the devastating consequences of impaired driving. For the families involved, the grief is compounded by unresolved legal battles, but Monday’s sentencing marks a step toward justice for Samantha Miller.
