Heartbreaking videos show the final moments of a bride killed by a drunk driver on her wedding night.
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, is said to have betrayed Samantha Miller, 34, and Aric Hutchinson, 36, as they traveled in a golf cart from their wedding in Folly Beach, South Carolina on Friday.
Sam was killed instantly on impact, and her husband was left in critical condition after the vehicle rolled more than 100 meters several times.
Her family paid tribute to her as “incredibly special” as her mother, Lisa Miller, slammed Komoroski for “ramming” her daughter and new husband.
The newlyweds were riding in the back of the car just two blocks from their home when Komoroski backed up at 65 mph in a 25-mile zone.
Samantha Miller, 34, and Aric Hutchinson, 36, were celebrating their wedding just before they were stopped by a drunk drive
Sam was killed instantly on impact, and her husband was left in critical condition after the vehicle rolled more than 100 meters several times
Haunting footage shows them running through a stream of sparklers, enjoying their first dance and eating cake on their big day just before the incident.
Speaking to ABC4, Sam’s sister Mandi Jenkins said: “I’ve never seen the light in her eyes shine as brightly as it did that day.
“At the beginning of the golf cart ride, she said she wished the night could last forever. It was the best night of her life.
“I never thought something like this would happen to us and my beautiful sister and all the 150 people that were there.
“This person made a careless mistake, and it’s not a mistake, it’s a life-changing event. She was incredibly special and now she’s not here.
Her mum described seeing the lights and hearing sirens as they got ready for bed after the ceremony and immediately texted Sam to check on her.
Lisa said: “I got out of my truck with my shoes off and ran and yelled at Sam. She literally ran into my daughter who was driving 65 miles an hour.
“Sam and Aric were in the back of the golf cart – she basically just rammed my kid.
The newlyweds were riding in the back of the car just two blocks from their home when Komoroski backed up at 65 mph in a 25-mile zone
Her family paid tribute to her as “incredibly special” as her mother Lisa Miller (left) slammed Komoroski for “ramming” her daughter and new husband
Aric has had reconstruction surgery and is facing another, as well as numerous broken bones and a brain injury
“Aric has had a very long physical journey and a longer emotional journey. They couldn’t be more perfect for each other.”
Her brother Nathan added: “Sam Miller was pure love. There is not and will not be another person on this planet who shines like her.
“She was loud. Not with her voice, but with her heart. She made the uncomfortable pleasant and brought peace, confidence and laughter to everyone around her.
“With her, love at first sight was not only possible, it was a matter of course. Her smile would make you fall in love instantly.
“She was the one person everyone knew she would never give up on. She was incredibly special.”
Komoroski was alone in a rented gray, can reveal that she has a history of traffic violations dating back to 2018.
Police say she became “uncooperative” when asked to take a sobriety test, but claimed she was an eight out of ten on the disabled scale.
Haunting footage shows them running through a stream of sparklers, enjoying their first dance and eating cake on their big day just before the incident
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, looked glassy-eyed in a new mugshot taken hours after her clash with the newlyweds
The Folly Beach Police Department confirmed the incident occurred around 10 p.m. at the 1200 block of East Ashley Avenue
She told officers at the scene that she had only had a beer and a tequila about an hour before the 10 p.m. crash, but was described as having trouble standing.
Authorities said the logistics account manager smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on her feet but was unharmed in the collision.
Unsealed affidavits describe how authorities tried in vain to rescue the new bride and treat her seriously injured husband and two other family members who were thrown from the cart.
Komoroski was first charged with speeding 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 exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph or less, for 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.
Komoroski (center) was first charged with speeding on May 31, 2018 in Horry County, South Carolina
Sam and Aric were being escorted by his brother-in-law Ben Garrett and nephew Brogan when they were hit by Komoroski
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 raised more than $390,000 with Anette writing, “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.
Komoroski (right) was arrested for speeding again in November 2018 during a rare freeze warning in the popular tourist area
The “cute” bridal couple and two other occupants of the buggy were in the vehicle when it rolled over 100 meters several times, killing the bride instantly
A family member confirmed that one of the men was released on Sunday and is recovering, although “beaten and sore”.
“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.”
The Charleston County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Sam died at the scene from blunt trauma 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.
The newlyweds are seen at their first dance on Friday at Folly Beach in South Carolina
Jamie Komoroski, 25, has been charged with three counts of DUI felonies resulting in serious bodily harm or death and one count of reckless homicide
Friends paid tribute to the bride, calling her ‘one of the nicest people’
“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.
The Folly Beach Police Department confirmed the incident occurred around 10 p.m. at the 1200 block of East Ashley Avenue.
Komoroski was the only occupant of the vehicle when she launched the cart and was charged with three counts of DUI involving serious bodily harm or death and one involuntary manslaughter.
The Logistics Account Executive remains in custody at Sheriff’s 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.