Drunk Driver Who Killed Bride in Her Wedding Dress Sentenced to 25 Years
A woman who acknowledged her excessive drinking and admitted to driving at speeds over twice the legal limit when she collided with a golf cart, resulting in the death of a bride who had just wed on a South Carolina beach, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday.
Jamie Lee Komoroski entered a guilty plea at the Charleston County courthouse for charges of reckless homicide, felony DUI causing death, and two counts of felony DUI causing great bodily injury before her sentencing.
The crash in 2023 also injured the groom, Aric Hutchinson, who became emotional during the court proceedings as he recounted the final moments shared with Samantha Miller—some of their very few moments as newlyweds.
“While on the golf cart, she expressed her desire for the night to continue, and I kissed her on the forehead. The next thing I recall is waking up in the hospital,” Hutchinson stated.
Samantha Miller and her groom-to-be Aric Hutchinson in a file photo. Family of Samantha Miller via AP
Komoroski, aged 27, received the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for felony DUI causing death from Judge Deadra Jefferson. Additionally, she was given 15 years for each count of felony DUI causing great bodily injury and 10 years for reckless homicide, with all sentences to run concurrently.
Authorities reported that Komoroski visited multiple bars on April 28, 2023, and was driving at 65 mph on a narrow Folly Beach road, where the speed limit is 25 mph, when she crashed into the golf cart departing from a wedding. Her blood-alcohol concentration was 0.26 percent, over three times the legal limit.
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The 34-year-old bride passed away still adorned in her wedding dress. The groom endured a brain injury along with various broken bones. The impact from the crash launched the golf cart roughly 100 yards.
Upon entering her guilty plea, Komoroski expressed a newfound awareness of her addiction to alcohol and recognized her selfish disregard for how her actions impacted others. She vowed to dedicate her life to assisting addicts and raising awareness regarding the hazards of drinking and driving. She expressed being “devastated, deeply ashamed, and sorry” for her actions.
“If only I could rewind time and avert this tragic incident. But that is impossible. I will carry with me profound regret for what occurred that night,” she stated.
Komoroski committed that her efforts would honor Miller’s memory.
“I pray that God supports my victims and their families and loved ones for the remainder of their lives,” Komoroski remarked.
Numerous friends and family members of both Miller and Komoroski shared their testimonies during the nearly three-hour hearing. Supporters of Komoroski urged the judge for a lighter sentence, pointing out her youth, remorse, and potential for positive influence.
In contrast, many family members of Miller requested a severe penalty, stating they could never regain her presence and highlighting the self-centered decisions Komoroski made that night, which irreparably affected many lives. Komoroski looked at most of Miller’s family, including Hutchinson, throughout their statements, occasionally dabbing away tears.
Lisa Miller (L) and her daughter Mandi Jenkins wipe tears from their eyes after testifying during a bond hearing for Jamie Lee Komoroski at the Charleston County Courthouse in Charleston, S.C., on Aug 1, 2023. Gavin McIntyre/The Post And Courier via AP
Hutchinson conveyed that he is now seeing more doctors and therapists than he can remember due to his physical injuries and the emotional trauma from the crash, expressing that the incident is a daily thought in his mind.
“There are times I wish I had lost my life that night. I wish I had been aware of it sooner. I would have leaped off the golf cart to spare myself being hit,” Hutchinson mentioned.
Hutchinson has secured $863,000 in legal settlements from three bars that served Komoroski, along with funds from her insurance company and the rental car agency.
Prior to the sentencing, Miller’s father confronted Komoroski, expressing his disgust at her seeming failure to take responsibility. He stated she could offer her apologies, but he would not be inclined to hear them.
“For the rest of my life, I will harbor resentment towards you, and when I find myself in hell one day, I will gladly open the door for you,” Brad Warner stated. “You have shattered countless lives.”
By Jeffrey Collins
