A bride was killed moments after her wedding reception when the golf cart carrying her and her husband away from their reception was struck by an alleged drunk driver going more than twice the speed limit.
According to Law&Crime, Samantha Miller, 34, died after Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, allegedly slammed her rental car into the back of the golf cart on a road on Folly Beach, South Carolina, at around 10:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28. Miller’s new husband, Aric Hutchinson, reportedly suffered a brain injury and is in critical condition, and two other people in the golf cart were also hurt.
The golf cart was reportedly thrown 100 yards and rolled over several times after impact.
“All occupants of the LSV/golf cart were injured to different extents, to include one fatality,” Folly Beach Public Safety Director Andrew Gilreath said in a statement. Three other people in the golf cart were injured, with two in “very serious condition” and one, a minor, in stable condition.
“The person killed in the crash was Samantha Miller, who just earlier in the evening celebrated her wedding,” the statement said. “The occupants were transporting the new bride and groom back to their rental house when they were struck.”
Komoroski was not injured in the crash.
Gilreath said that Komoroski was going 65 mph at the time she struck the golf cart from behind. The speed limit on Folly Island, located some 10 miles south of Charleston, is 25 mph, according to the Associated Press.
“She is being charged with three (3) counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury/death, and one (1) count of reckless homicide,” Gilreath’s statement said.
First responders said that she smelled of alcohol and refused to perform a field sobriety test, according local news affiliate WCBD, citing police affidavits.
Gilreath’s office did not confirm whether Komoroski was driving under the influence.
“Her blood draw results are pending,” his statement said.
The Associated Press reported that Gilreath said the golf cart had lights and was legal to drive at night.
Aric Hutchinson’s mother has launched a GoFundMe effort in the wake of Miller’s death and her son’s serious injuries.
“I was handed Aric’s wedding ring in a plastic bag at the hospital, five hours after Sam placed it on his finger and they read each other their vows,” Annette Hutchinson’s fundraising page said. “Aric has lost the love of his life.”
Annette Hutchinson said that her son is in critical condition and “has had one of two reconstruction surgeries, numerous broken bones, and a brain injury.”
“He will have a long recovery,” she added.
The two other people in the golf cart were Annette Hutchinson’s son-in-law, Benjamin Garrett, and grandson, Brogan Garrett, who were escorting the couple from the reception at the time, the website said.
The couple had apparently “made their home in both the groom’s home state of Utah and the state of South Carolina,” the website said. Miller was from North Carolina.
As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe has more than quadrupled its stated goal of $100,000 to help pay for Miller’s burial and medical costs for Aric Hutchinson and his family.
WCBD reported that Komoroski has a history of speeding-related charges.
