A new bride was killed and a groom seriously injured on their wedding night as they left their reception when a suspected drunken driver crashed into a golf cart in a South Carolina beach town.
Samantha “Sam” Miller Hutchinson, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was one of four passengers in the golf cart and died at the scene. The groom, Aric Hutchinson, was in critical condition and suffering from a brain injury and multiple broken bones, according to reports.
According to his mother, Aric Hutchinson has had one reconstruction surgery and is scheduled for another one.
According to the Charleston County Detention Center website, Jamie Lee Komoroski was charged with reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death.
Komoroski, 25, faces one to 25 years in prison on each DUI count.
The investigation into the collision determined that Komoroski was traveling 65 mph when she allegedly crashed into the bridal party on Folly Island, south of Charleston. The speed limit on the island is 25 mph, The Associated Press reported.
The groom’s mother created a GoFundMe to pay for her daughter-in-law’s funeral and her son’s medical bills. It included a photo of the newlyweds running under sparklers just before the crash. The fund has raised over $500k.
The GoFundME also had a photo of groom Aric Hutchinson in the hospital, where he was recovering from a brain injury.
“She, Samantha, from the moment she woke up that day until she left the venue, she told Aric on the golf cart that she wanted this day to last forever,” Jenkins said of her sister. “He told us that at the hospital today when we saw him.”
She was being held without bail, according to WYFF. It was unclear if she had an attorney representing her.
Credit: Today, People, AP News