On Monday, a woman who acknowledged to drinking and driving more than twice the speed limit when she struck a golf cart and killed a newlywed bride on a South Carolina beach was given a 25-year jail sentence.
Prior to her sentence, Jamie Lee Komoroski entered a guilty plea in the Charleston County courthouse to two counts of felony DUI causing serious bodily injury, felony DUI causing death, and reckless homicide.
Jamie Lee Komoroski breaks down in tears as Samantha Miller’s family members discuss Miller at Komoroski’s plea hearing in Charleston County Court on Monday, December 2, 2024, in Charleston, South Carolina. (The Post and Courier/Henry Taylor via AP)
The groom, Aric Hutchinson, was also injured in the 2023 crash. He sobbed in court as he described his final minutes with Samantha Miller, some of their last moments together as husband and wife.
I gave her a forehead kiss after she told me she didn’t want the night to end on the golf cart, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital, Hutchinson remarked.
Judge Deadra Jefferson sentenced 27-year-old Komoroski to a maximum of 25 years in prison for felony DUI causing death. She also received sentences of 10 years in jail for reckless homicide and 15 years in prison for each count of felony DUI inflicting grave bodily injury. All of the sentences will run simultaneously.
According to the police, Komoroski was driving 65 mph (105 kph) on a small Folly Beach road with a 25 mph (40 kph) speed limit on April 28, 2023, after drinking at multiple pubs, when she collided with a golf cart while leaving a wedding. Her blood alcohol content was 0.26%, over three times the legal driving limit.
The bride, 34, passed away while still in her bridal gown. The groom had multiple fractured bones and a head injury. The collision threw the cart 91 meters (100 yards).
Komoroski stated that she became aware of her alcohol addiction after entering a guilty plea and that she was self-centered enough to disregard the consequences of her conduct. She vowed to aid addicts and raise awareness of the risks of drinking and driving for the rest of her life. She expressed her tremendous guilt, sadness, and regret for her actions.
I wish this horrible tragedy could be reversed. However, I am unable to. She remarked, “I will regret what happened that night for the rest of my life.”
“All of my work will be dedicated to Miller’s memory,” she stated.
According to Komoroski, “I pray that God will be with my victims, their families, and loved ones for the rest of their lives.”
At the hearing, which lasted over three hours, several of Miller and Komoroski’s friends and family members spoke. Because Komoroski is young, repentant, and capable of doing good deeds, her supporters urged the judge to be forgiving.
Many members of Miller’s family requested a severe punishment, arguing that they would never be able to win her back and that Komoroski’s actions that evening were self-serving and left many others permanently damaged. As they talked, Komoroski glanced at Hutchinson and the majority of Miller’s family, occasionally blotting away tears.
Hutchinson claimed that due of his physical wounds and the psychological distress caused by the collision, he sees more doctors and therapists than he can count and that he considers it daily.
I wish I had passed away that evening. I wish I had anticipated it. Hutchinson remarked, “I would have leaped from the golf cart so you would only have run me over.”
Hutchinson received $863,000 in settlements from her insurance company, the business where she rented her automobile, and three bars that catered to Komoroski.
Miller’s father told Komoroski prior to the sentencing that he was disgusted by her seeming inability to accept responsibility. She may apologize, he assured her, but he would not hear it.
Brad Warner declared, “I will hate you for the rest of my life, and when I get to hell and you come there, I’ll open the door for you.” You have destroyed the lives of many people.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
+ There are no comments
Add yours