A DUI has linked a South Carolina woman to have been found operating a vehicle while intoxicated and killing a bride on her wedding day was sentenced. In April 2023, Jamie Lee Komoroski went bar hopping before getting behind the wheel. That day ended with an irreversible tragedy, and she was charged with four criminal charges. On December 2, 2024, 27-year-old Komoroski pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
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Arrests and Charges
The accident occurred on April 28, 2023, when Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson tied the knot. The bride and groom and two other family members were riding in a golf cart when Komoroski rear-ended them at 65mph in a 25mph zone. All four passengers were ejected from the cart, and all but the bride survived. However, they suffered greatly from their injuries and the loss of a loved one.
The bride died at the scene of the crime from blunt force trauma. All while Hutchinson was undergoing reconstructive surgeries and recovering from many broken bones and a brain injury. He sued Komoroski along with the bars that served her. The judge ordered a $1.3 million settlement to be paid to Hutchinson for the damages caused. However, no amount of money will be able to take away the emotional pain Miller’s husband and family will have to endure for a lifetime.
Komoroski was arrested on April 29, 2023, the day after she drove intoxicated into the newlyweds Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson\’s golf cart. A toxicology report showed that Komoroski was three times over the legal driving limit when she caused the crash. She was charged with a felony DUI causing death, two felonies for a DUI causing great bodily injury, and reckless homicide. She spent less than a year behind bars at Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center before being let out on a $150,000 bond in March of this year.
South Carolina Woman Sentenced
Komoroski never denied causing the accident or attempting to place blame elsewhere. She accepted fault from that day. She admitted to being an alcoholic but also tried to get help and overcome her addiction. Her attorney, Chris Gramiccioni, said all she wanted to do was take full responsibility for the tragedy her reckless actions caused, and she could do so in court the day she pleaded guilty. When Komoroski addressed the courtroom and the judge, she said, “I want the last thing that I say to be that from the very bottom of my heart with every fiber of my being how sorry I am and that I take full responsibility for my actions.”
The surviving members of the crash, as well as the victim’s families, spoke at the sentencing hearing. Hutchinson, the husband, has been continuously suffering since the day his wife was taken from him. He recalled his final moments with her, “I think about that night every single day and the last moments that I had with Sam on the golf cart.” He continued, “She told me she didn’t want the night to end, and I kissed her on the forehead, and then the next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital.” With tears streaming down his face, he told the court he wished he died alongside her that night.
Final Thoughts
The victim’s families requested a harsh sentence due to the irreversible pain Komoroski’s actions caused. Miller’s father also spoke in addition to the other family members and was not as sensitive with his words. He admitted to being disgusted with Komoroski, and rightfully so. He said, “The rest of my life, I’m going to hate you, and when I arrive in hell and you come there, I will open the door for you,” Brad Warner said. “You have ruined so many people’s lives.” His words and feelings are valid. No amount of apologies will ever bring back his daughter or take away their pain.
Judge Deadra Jefferson sentenced Komoroski to 10 years for reckless homicide, 15 years for the felony DUI with great bodily injury, and 25 years for the felony DUI causing death. She is to serve her sentences concurrently with time served, including during house arrest. Komoroski will serve out her sentences in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Her attorney respected the judge’s decision while acknowledging that it was the maximum sentencing she would receive.
