The drunk driver who crashed into newlyweds while leaving the wedding – killing the bride and seriously injuring the groom – claimed she only had two drinks.
Newly released affidavits from officers at the Folly Beach, South Carolina crash site show that Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, was “uncooperative” when police asked her to perform an on-site sobriety test.
But when asked how impaired she was on a scale of 10, she said she was an eight.
Authorities have previously said Komoroski was traveling at 65mph, within a 25mph zone and drunk at the wheel of a rented Toyota Camry, when she crashed into newlyweds Samantha Miller, 34, and Aric Hutchinson, 36, as they left their wedding in a golf cart.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene while Hutchinson continues fighting for his life at a local hospital.
Komoroski is now in pre-trial detention, charged with three counts of DUI resulting in serious bodily harm or death and one involuntary manslaughter.
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, has been charged with three counts of DUI felonies resulting in serious bodily harm or death and one count of reckless homicide
Samantha Miller, 34, and Aric Hutchinson, 36, celebrated their wedding just before they were hit in the back by Komoroski
Aric has had reconstruction surgery and is facing another, as well as numerous broken bones and a brain injury
The newly unsealed police affidavits, acquired by WCBD, describe in harrowing detail how police tried and failed to rescue Miller and Hutchinson and another member of their bridal party when the golf cart they were traveling in overturned multiple times 100 meters rolled.
The first officer on scene described seeing “a large crash site with a golf cart on its side” around 10 p.m. in the 1200 block of East Ashley Avenue and several victims lying among the rubble.
He said his priority was treating the new bride, but when his efforts failed, he also provided assistance to Hutchinson and another member of her bridal party, Garrett Hutchinson.
When he finished sighting the injured, the officer said he then turned his attention to Komoroski, who was not injured in the collision.
The officer said the 25-year-old logistics account manager smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on her feet.
She even had trouble standing, the responding officer described, and when asked to rate her impairment on a scale of one to ten, she replied that it was a grade eight.
But, the officer said, Komoroski told police officers at the scene that all she had been drinking about an hour earlier was a beer and a tequila.
And when asked to conduct an on-site sobriety test, the officer wrote, “She flatly refused and became uncooperative.”
South Carolina authorities say Komoroski was traveling at 65 miles per hour, within a 25-mile limit, and was intoxicated at the wheel of a rented Toyota Camry when she collided with the newlyweds
Friends and relatives paid tribute to the “sweet couple” in an online fundraiser
It is unclear if the groom knows his wife has died as he has been in critical condition since the incident
According to a GoFundMe page set up by his mother, Annette Hutchinson, Aric is in critical condition.
It is unclear if the groom knows his wife has died as he has been in critical condition since the incident.
He has had reconstruction surgery and is expected to have another, as well as numerous broken bones and a brain injury.
Sam and Aric were being escorted by his brother-in-law, Ben Garrett, and his nephew, Brogan, when they were allegedly beaten by Komoroski. Ben was also badly injured.
A family member confirmed Brogan was released on Sunday and is recovering, although he is “battered and sore”.
GoFundMe has raised more than $150,000 and Anette writes, “I received Aric’s wedding ring in a plastic bag at the hospital five hours after Sam put it on his finger and they read their vows to each other. Aric has lost the love of his life.
“The couple has settled in both the groom’s home state of Utah and the state of South Carolina. The bride is from North Carolina.
“The groom graduated from Bonneville High School in South Ogden, Utah and played college football for Snow College and Utah Tech.”
Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson are pictured at their wedding hours before the crash
The newlyweds are seen at their first dance on Friday at Folly Beach in South Carolina
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Miller died at the scene from blunt force injuries sustained in the accident.
Paying tribute to the bride, her friends called her “one of the nicest people,” and said of the couple, “Nobody deserves that, but especially Aric and Sam, a dream couple who brought so much life, laughter and spice into life.”
Another added: “I’ll never forget, when she introduced herself for her job at the office we asked her where she saw herself in 10 years.
“Her answer, without missing a beat, was married to the love of her life and a mother.
“It was all tragically taken by one carefree person on the night her dream was just beginning.”
Andrew Gilreath, director of Folly Beach’s public safety department, said the golf cart – a slow-moving six-person model with a top speed of 40km/h – was legal to drive at night.
Komoroski is currently being held at Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court in connection with the June incident.
She faces up to 25 years in prison for the death of the bride and a fine of up to $25,100 and an additional 15 years and $10,100 for seriously injuring the men in the buggy.
She could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for the reckless murder — as well as having her license suspended for five years if she’s released.
Records obtained from indicate that Komoroski has a history of traffic violations
She has three traffic violations in Horry County, South Carolina, home of Myrtle Beach and Coastal Carolina University
Komoroski was arrested in 2018 and pleaded guilty to speeding for the road conditions
Records obtained by show that Komoroski has a history of traffic violations dating back to 2018.
The first took place on May 31, 2018 in Horry County, South Carolina — home of Myrtle Beach and Coastal Carolina University, where Komoroski attended school.
She was charged with driving less than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, to which she pleaded guilty and paid a $76.50 fine.
Later that year, Komoroski pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle at a speed consistent with improper road conditions. She was arrested in November during a rare freeze warning in the popular tourist area.
In 2019, Komoroski was again charged with speeding 10 mph or less, to which she again pleaded guilty and paid an additional $76.50.
More recently, she was subpoenaed for failing to use a turn signal or stop signal, to which she pleaded guilty on April 5, 2023 and paid a $25 fine.