Woman driving drunk who killed bride still in her wedding dress
sentenced to 25 years in prison
Send a link to a friend
[December 03, 2024]
By JEFFREY COLLINS
A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the
speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart, killing a bride who had
just got married at a South Carolina beach, was sentenced Monday to 25
years in prison.
Jamie Lee Komoroski pleaded guilty at the Charleston County courthouse
to reckless homicide, felony DUI causing death and two counts of felony
DUI causing great bodily injury before her sentencing.
Also hurt in the 2023 crash was the groom, Aric Hutchinson, who cried in
court as he recalled the last moments he spent with Samantha Miller —
some of their only moments as husband and wife.
“On the golf cart, she told me she didn’t want the night to end and I
kissed her on the forehead and then the next thing I remember is waking
up in the hospital,” Hutchinson said.
Komoroski, 27, was sentenced to the maximum of 25 years in prison for
felony DUI causing death by Judge Deadra Jefferson. She also was
sentenced to 15 years in prison for each count of felony DUI causing
great bodily injury and 10 years for reckless homicide. The sentences
will all run at the same time.

Police said Komoroski drank at several bars on April 28, 2023, and was
driving 65 mph (105 kph) on a narrow Folly Beach road with a speed limit
of 25 mph (40 kph) when she slammed into the golf cart leaving a
wedding. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.26%, which is more than three
times the legal limit to drive.
The 34-year-old bride died still wearing her wedding dress. The groom
suffered a brain injury and numerous broken bones. The cart was thrown
100 yards (91 meters) by the crash.
After pleading guilty, Komoroski said she realized now she was addicted
to alcohol and selfishly didn't care how her actions affected others.
She promised to spend the rest of her life helping addicts and warning
of the dangers of drinking and driving. She said she was “devastated,
deeply ashamed and sorry” for what she did.
“I wish I could go back and undo this terrible tragedy. But I cannot. I
will live the rest of my life with intense regret for what happened that
night,” she said.
[to top of second column]
|

Aric Hutchinson speaks about Samantha Miller to 9th Circuit Court
Judge Deadra Jefferson during the plea hearing for Jamie Lee
Komoroski, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in Charleston, S.C. (Henry
Taylor/The Post And Courier via AP)

She said all her work will be dedicated to Miller's memory.
“I pray God stands by the side of my victims and their families and
loved ones for the rest of their lives,” Komoroski said.
A number of friends and family of both Miller and Komoroski spoke at
the hearing, which lasted nearly three hours. Komoroski's supporters
asked the judge to be lenient because she is young, remorseful and
can still do good.
Many of Miller's family asked for a harsh sentence, saying they can
never get her back and that the decisions Komoroski made that night
were selfish and permanently scarred many lives. Komoroski looked at
most of Miller’s family, including Hutchinson, as they spoke,
occasionally wiping away tears.
Hutchinson said he sees more doctors and therapists than he can
count because of his physical injuries and the mental anguish of the
crash, and that he thinks about it every single day.
“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,”
Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson won $863,000 in legal settlements from three bars that
served Komoroski as well as her insurance firm and the company she
rented her car from.
Before the sentencing, Miller's father told Komoroski he was
disgusted that she appeared to never take responsibility. He told
her she could apologize, but he wouldn't listen to a word.
“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,” Brad Warner said.
“You have ruined so many people's lives.”
All contents © copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved |