A woman in South Carolina was charged with killing a bride on her wedding night in an accident while drunk in April of this year. She pleaded guilty on Monday, just before her trial was to start.
The trial of 27-year-old Jamie Komoroski began. Police said she was more than three times the legal limit when she killed 34-year-old Samantha Miller and her 36-year-old groom Aric Hutchinson in a golf cart accident on their wedding night.
Komoroski admitted to one felony DUI charge, two DUI charges causing serious physical harm or death, and one reckless homicide charge. She was given a 25-year prison sentence by the judge, according to WCSC.
In response to a question about why she pleaded guilty, Komoroski informed the court that she was indeed guilty, had no choice but to do so, and was not interested in a jury hearing.
When asked about the sentence, Hutchinson told WCSC, “I think the punishment fits the crime.” “I believe she is sorry. Even so, that doesn’t change the fact that Sam isn’t here, neither is my wife. Nor is the family we had planned. Nor are any of our injuries. That will take some time.”
Police say Komoroski hit Miller and her husband with her rental car on April 28, 2023, while she was going 65 mph in a 25 mph zone. They were leaving their wedding reception in Folly Beach, South Carolina.
Miller died from her injuries, and Hutchinson broke two legs, several bones in his face, and hurt his head.
On Monday, Hutchinson and Miller’s family spoke in court about how Komoroski’s death left them feeling empty.
“Do you know what it’s like to vow to protect your wife, do nothing for her, and then lose her hours later?” Komoroski was asked by Hutchinson.
“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,” he said.
Lisa Miller, the bride’s mother, told the court how much pain she was in and remembered the last time she hugged her daughter, which was during a dance at the wedding dinner, just hours before the fatal crash.
Komoroski talked to the families of Miller and Hutchinson and said she was ready to take any sentence the judge thought was fair for the choices she had made.
“I’m truly and deeply sorry. “I’m fully responsible for what I did,” Komoroski said. “For the rest of my life, I will carry this guilt and take full responsibility.”
In June, a judge in South Carolina approved a $1.3 million deal for the families of the victims in a case of wrongful death that Hutchinson had brought against Komoroski.
As per the lawsuit, Komoroski had a “booze-filled day of bar hopping” and the places she went that day were required to “exercise due care” when offering alcohol.
The seven-figure award will be given to the bars that served Komoroski before the accident and the car rental company she used.
WCSC reported that some of the companies that were named in the lawsuit have settled with Hutchinson. The settlement will give all parties $863,000 after fees.
Hutchinson’s lawyer, Danny Dalton, said the amount was less than expected because he is still fighting with the mother of the dead bride over his estate. She is questioning whether the two were properly married.