South Carolina driver gets 25 years for DUI crash that killed bride, injured groom on wedding day

A South Carolina woman charged with drunkenly plowing into a newlywed couple’s golf cart, killing the bride and seriously injuring the groom on their wedding day, was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.

A judge delivered the sentence in a Charleston courtroom after Jamie Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty to all crimes in connection with the April 28, 2023, crash that killed Samantha Miller, 34, and left Aric Hutchinson with a brain injury and broken bones hours after they were married.

Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson at their wedding.via GoFundMe

Komoroski was charged with reckless homicide and three counts of felony DUI. 

Circuit Court Judge Deadra L. Jefferson sentenced Komoroski to 25 years for felony DUI resulting in death. She was sentenced to 10 years and 15 years for her other crimes but will serve those terms concurrently.

“She doesn’t get to come back to life in 10 years, 25 years,” Samantha Miller’s mother, Lisa Miller, told the court after Komoroski pleaded guilty, according to NBC affiliate WCBD of Charleston. “This is a lifetime.”

Komoroski apologized for what she called her "thoughtless" actions and said that she'd been "hopelessly" addicted to alcohol at the time of the crash.

"I take full responsibility for my actions," she said at one point, while looking at the victim's relatives and loved ones. "Hopefully, one day you will be able to forgive me. I know forgiveness must be earned."

The newlywed couple and two passengers had been heading by golf cart to a Folly Beach rental house after their wedding reception when Komoroski, driving 65 mph, smashed into the back of the smaller vehicle around 10 p.m.

Everyone in the golf cart, which had been traveling 25 mph, was ejected, according to WCBD.

Samantha Miller died from blunt force trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.