FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — The husband of a bride who was killed in a South Carolina beach road collision on her wedding night last year will receive nearly a million dollars in settlement connected to the crash, which a drunk driver allegedly caused.
The Post and Courier reported that Aric Hutchinson will receive about $863,300 from Folly Beach bars The Drop In Bar & Deli, the Crab Shack and Snapper Jacks; Progressive auto insurance; and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, according to a settlement approved earlier this week by Charleston County Circuit Court Judge Roger Young.
Hutchinson sued the businesses after driver Jamie Lee Komoroski crashed a rented vehicle into a golf cart carrying him and his new bride, 34-year-old Samantha Miller, away from their wedding reception on April 28, 2023.
The golf cart was thrown 100 yards (91.44 meters). Miller died at the scene, still wearing her wedding dress. Hutchinson survived with a brain injury and multiple broken bones. Komoroski was driving 65 mph on a 25 mph road, the newspaper reported.
Hutchinson charged in the wrongful death lawsuit that Komoroski “slurred and staggered” across several bars around Folly Beach before speeding in her Toyota Camry with a blood-alcohol concentration more than three times the legal limit.
The settlements amount to $1.3 million but will total less than that after attorney and legal fees are paid.
Komoroski is out on bond as her case makes its way through the court system. In September, she was charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in death, reckless homicide and two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury.
A man who tragically lost his wife in a DUI crash on their wedding night is set to receive almost $1 million in a settlement, bringing some measure of closure to the devastating loss he has endured.
The incident occurred on a joyous occasion that was supposed to mark the beginning of a new chapter in the couple’s life together. Instead, it turned into a nightmare when a drunk driver crashed into their vehicle, taking the life of the bride and leaving the groom with profound grief and heartache.
The legal battle that followed sought to hold the responsible party accountable for their reckless actions and the irreparable harm they caused. After months of negotiations and court proceedings, a settlement has been reached that will provide the grieving husband with some financial compensation for his loss.
While no amount of money can ever truly make up for the pain and suffering he has experienced, the settlement will at least help to alleviate some of the financial burdens that have come with the tragedy. It will also serve as a form of justice for his late wife, ensuring that her memory is not forgotten and that those responsible for her untimely death are held accountable.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of driving under the influence. It is a senseless and preventable act that can shatter lives in an instant, leaving behind a trail of devastation and heartbreak. It is a stark reminder of the importance of making responsible choices behind the wheel and the need for stricter enforcement of DUI laws to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
As this man prepares to receive his settlement, he will no doubt continue to mourn the loss of his beloved wife and grapple with the pain of her absence. But he can take some small comfort in knowing that justice has been served and that he can now begin to move forward with his life, carrying his wife’s memory with him always.
