Yahoo News $1.3 Million Settlement Reached In DUI Crash That Killed Bride and Injured Groom On Their Wedding Night
Samantha Miller, 34, was killed hours after getting married when a drunk driver crashed into a golf cart taking them home at 65 mph in April 2023
The family of a South Carolina bride who was killed by an drunk driver on her wedding night in April 2023 has been awarded a settlement.
On Tuesday, June 18, a judge granted Samantha Miller’s family $1.3 million following the deadly incident that left 34-year-old Miller dead and her newlywed-husband Aric Hutchinson — plus two others — injured. After legal fees, the recipients, which include Hutchinson, Miller's estate and the other two injured, will receive $863,000, per local outlet WDBJ.
Part of that sum comes from Enterprise Rental Cars, which suspect Jamie Lee Komoroski was driving a rental from, and several of the Folly Beach bars that served Komoroski alcohol before she crashed her car, according to WCSC.
According to reports from WCSC, WDBJ and WFMY, Hutchinson's lawyer made a statement in the courtroom alluding to the ongoing dispute between his client and Miller’s family regarding control of her estate.
“What we are here for today stems from a tragic incident,” attorney Danny Dalton said. “The decedent, Ms. Samantha Miller, was killed in a driving collision. Her husband, Mr. Aric Hutchinson, is here with us. He is the proper personal representative for the estate.”
According to Dalton, Miller’s mother has raised a question about the legal status of her daughter’s marriage to Hutchinson given the incident, and requested control over Miller’s estate.
In April 2023, Miller and Hutchinson were on their way back to their hotel room after their wedding when then 25-year-old Komoroski slammed into their golf cart going 65 mph. Her blood alcohol level was found to be at 0.261 percent, over three times the legal limit.
Charleston County Sheriff's Office via AP
Jamie Lee KomoroskiKomoroski was indicted on charges of one count of reckless homicide and three counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily harm.
Hutchinson underwent multiple surgeries after breaking both legs and multiple bones in his face from the crash. Two other family members were also injured in the crash.
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In May 2023, Hutchinson made his first public appearance on Good Morning America, opening up about losing his wife just hours after tying the knot.
"I remember waking up — just kind of foggy, out of sorts — and I could see my mom's face," he recounted in the tearful segment.
Related: S.C. Groom Doesn't Remember Fatal Golf Cart Crash Caused by Alleged Drunk Driver that Killed Bride
"You could tell that something was wrong. And I asked her, 'Where's Sam, where's Sam?' And that's when she told me about the incident and that Sam didn't make it."
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around it," he added, recalling his wife's death. "That night going on an all-time high to an all-time low. It's pretty rough to comprehend. ... We had family, friends, from all over the country — everywhere there. And everyone was just so happy. She was so happy. It was [one of the best nights of my life]."
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