CHARLESTON, USA – A South Carolina woman who admitted to driving over twice the speed limit while intoxicated, leading to a crash that killed a newlywed bride, was sentenced on Monday, December 2, 2024, to 25 years in prison.
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty at the Charleston County courthouse to reckless homicide, felony DUI (driving under the influence) causing death, and two counts of felony DUI causing great bodily injury following the tragic incident on April 28, 2023.
In addition to the 25-year sentence for the DUI causing death, she received 15 years for each count of felony DUI causing great bodily injury and 10 years for reckless homicide. The sentences will run concurrently.
The crash occurred on Folly Beach, South Carolina, when Komoroski slammed her vehicle into a golf cart carrying newlyweds Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson, just minutes after their wedding.
Miller, 34, died in the crash, still wearing her wedding dress. Hutchinson, who was severely injured, suffered a brain injury and numerous broken bones.
According to police, Komoroski had been drinking at several bars before driving 65 mph (105 km/h) on a narrow road with a speed limit of just 25 mph (40 km/h).
Her blood alcohol level was found to be 0.26%, more than three times the legal limit.
In an emotional statement during the court proceedings, Hutchinson recounted the final moments he spent with his wife.
“On the golf cart, she told me she didn’t want the night to end, and I kissed her on the forehead. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital,” he said, holding back tears.
Komoroski expressed deep remorse for her actions, acknowledging her alcohol addiction and the devastating consequences of her reckless behaviour.
“I wish I could go back and undo this terrible tragedy. But I cannot,” she said. “I will live the rest of my life with intense regret.”
She also vowed to dedicate her life to helping addicts and warning others about the dangers of drinking and driving.
“All my work will be dedicated to Samantha’s memory,” Komoroski added.
During the nearly three-hour hearing, both Miller’s and Komoroski’s families gave powerful statements.
Komoroski’s supporters, including friends and family, urged the judge to be lenient, citing her youth and remorse.
In contrast, Miller’s family members called for a severe sentence, emphasising the irreversible loss of their loved one and the enduring emotional pain caused by Komoroski’s actions.
Miller’s father, Brad Warner, expressed his outrage during the hearing, saying that he could never forgive Komoroski for what she had done.
“The rest of my life, I’m going to hate you. And when I arrive in hell and you come there, I will open the door for you,” he said.
Hutchinson, who has struggled with both physical and emotional trauma since the crash, said he continues to undergo therapy for his injuries.
“I think about it every single day,” he said. “I wish I had died that night. I wish I had seen it coming. I’d have jumped off the golf cart so you would only have run me over.”
In a civil settlement, Hutchinson was awarded $863,000 from three bars that served Komoroski alcohol, as well as from her insurance company and the car rental agency that provided her the vehicle.
The sentencing brings to an end the legal proceedings for Komoroski, but for Hutchinson and Miller’s family, the emotional toll of that fateful night will never fade.
