Newlywed Bride Killed, Groom Critically Injured When Impaired Driver Crashes Into Their Golf Cart

Folly Beach, SC – A newlywed bride was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver as she was riding in a golf cart after her wedding reception late last week.

The horrific collision occurred in the 1200-block of East Ashley Avenue at approximately 10 p.m. on April 28, WCSC reported.

Investigators said 34-year-old Samantha Miller was riding in a golf cart with her new husband and two members of her wedding party when a vehicle slammed into the back of them at approximately 65 miles per hour, according to WCSC.

They were traveling in a 25-mile-per-hour zone at the time, police said.

Witnesses said the force of the crash tossed the golf cart more than 100 yards and caused it to roll over multiple times.

Court records said officers found bodies lying amid the wreckage when they arrived at the crash site, according to WCBD.

Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal said Miller died from her injuries at the scene, WCSC reported.

Her new husband and two other members of her wedding party were injured.

Folly Beach Director of Public Safety Chief Andrew Gilreath said two of the surviving victims are in very serious condition, WCSC reported.

The groom’s family identified him on a fundraising page as Aric Hutchinson.

“Aric is in serious condition and has had one of two reconstruction surgeries, numerous broken bones, and a brain injury, he will have a long recovery,” wrote Aric Hutchinson’s mother, Annette Hutchinson.

“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 said. “Aric has lost the love of his life.”

Donors have contributed more than $460,000 to the fund so far.

The driver of the vehicle that crashed into the newlyweds has been arrested and charged with three counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury/death and reckless homicide, WCSC reported.

She has been identified as 25-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski.

Komoroski was not injured in the collision, WCBD reported.

Police said the suspect had difficulty standing and smelled of an alcoholic beverage after the wreck, according to court documents.

Komoroski allegedly confessed to having consumed one beer and one tequila drink approximately one hour prior to the deadly collision, WCBD reported.

Police said she self-estimated her impairment to be about an eight on a scale of one to 10.

When officers asked Komoroski to perform a field sobriety test, she “strongly refused and became uncooperative,” according to the affidavit.

A warrant was obtained for a blood test to determine Komoroski’s alcohol level, but those results have not yet been released, WCBD reported.

Komoroski was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center on the pending charges.

Police said she has a history of speeding-related offenses, WCBD reported.