A woman who was driving under the influence and caused a fatal accident resulting in the death of a bride on her wedding night will be sentenced to 25 years in prison for her actions.
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 26, admitted to drunkenly getting behind the wheel and slamming into a golf cart with four people on April 28, 2023.
The victim, bride Samantha Miller, aged 34, lost her life in the crash, leaving her husband, Aric Hutchison, who is now a widower, with severe injuries. The tragic incident occurred just hours after the couple’s wedding in Folly Beach, South Carolina, near Charleston.
Hutchison suffered two broken legs, brain bleeds, and cuts all over his body after Komoroski hit him at 65 mph in a 25 mph zone.
The two others in the cart were left with severe road rash and horrific open wounds.
Despite having a blood alcohol level of over three times the legal limit due to a day of excessive drinking at various bars, the driver, identified as Komoroski, insisted to law enforcement officers at the scene that she had done nothing wrong.
In court Monday, Komoroski looked unrecognizable from her bleary-eyed mugshot and broke down in sobs as friends and family read victim impact statements.
Miller’s sister, Mandi Jenkins, told the court she lives in fear of car accidents and can’t leave the house without wondering whether she’ll come back alive.
“I know that no sentence can bring Sam back,” she said.
“I’m filled with anger and frustration knowing that my sister’s life was cut short by a selfish and preventable tragedy.
“We have to live with the consequences of this tragedy, and she should too.”
Miller’s heartbroken brother, Nathan Miller, said he jumps at every unexpected phone call as he fears it could be more terrible news.
Hutchison, who has filed and won a wrongful death suit against Miller, said he’s in daily physical pain because of his injuries.
“I think about that night every single day, and the last moments I had with Sam,” he said.
“On the golf cart, she told me she didn’t want the night to end.
“I wish I died that night so she didn’t have to go alone.”
Komoroski gave a tearful apology to the family and said she was “hopelessly addicted” to alcohol when she decided to get behind the wheel.
She begged the court for forgiveness and said she wanted her life to be a warning of the dangers of drinking and driving.
The killer was scheduled to begin trial on Monday but pleaded guilty to one count of felony DUI, two counts of felony DUI with great bodily harm, and one count of reckless homicide instead.
The judge assigned 15 years for the two DUI involving great bodily injury charges and 10 years for the felony charge, meaning she will spend 25 years in jail for her crimes.
JUSTICE SERVED
In June, Hutchinson was awarded $1.3 million after filing a wrongful death suit against Komoroski.
That money was paid out by Enterprise, which rented Komoroski the car she crashed into the golf cart, and the bars that continued to serve her throughout the night.
Komoroski posted now-disturbing Instagram pictures of herself drinking and dressed up as a bride before she killed Miller.
She ridiculously claimed to cops that she only had two drinks the night of the crash.
Heartwrenching photos of Miller and Hutchinson’s wedding capture the madly in love pair running through a sparkler sendoff and onto their honeymoon.
They went to the golf cart that was fashioned with a “just married” sign when he was plowed by Komoroski’s car.
