Jamie Komoroski was sentenced to 25 years in prison this week in connection to a 2023 DUI crash that killed a bride who was still wearing her wedding dress.
Komoroski's Sentencing
Ahead of her sentencing hearing, Jamie Lee Komoroski entered a guilty plea at the Charleston County courthouse to charges including reckless homicide, felony DUI resulting in death and two counts of felony DUI causing significant injury.
Komoroski, 27, received a maximum 25-year prison sentence for felony DUI resulting in death, handed down by Judge Deadra Jefferson at the Charleston County courthouse. She was also sentenced to 15 years for each count of felony DUI causing severe injury and 10 years for reckless homicide, with all sentences to be served concurrently.
The Case
Authorities reported that on April 28, 2023, Komoroski had been drinking at multiple bars before driving 65 mph on a narrow road in Folly Beach, where the speed limit is 25 mph. She collided with a golf cart carrying wedding guests, leaving devastating consequences. Her blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.26 percent, more than three times the legal driving limit.
Aric Hutchinson, the groom injured in the 2023 crash, broke down in court as he recounted his final moments with Samantha Miller and the brief time they shared as husband and wife.
"On the golf cart, 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 is waking up in the hospital," Hutchinson said during a sentencing hearing.
The 34-year-old bride was killed in the crash while still dressed in her wedding gown. Her husband sustained a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures, while the impact hurled the golf cart nearly 100 yards down the road.
After entering her guilty plea, Komoroski admitted to an alcohol addiction and acknowledged her selfish disregard for the consequences of her actions. She vowed to dedicate her life to supporting others battling addiction and raising awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Komoroski said that she was "devastated, deeply ashamed and sorry" for the fatal crash.
"I wish I could go back and undo this terrible tragedy. But I cannot. I will live the rest of my life with intense regret for what happened that night," Komoroski said. "I pray God stands by the side of my victims and their families and loved ones for the rest of their lives."
The nearly three-hour sentencing hearing featured emotional testimonies from friends and family of both Miller and Komoroski. Supporters of Komoroski urged the judge to consider her youth, her expressed remorse and potential to contribute positively in the future as grounds for leniency.
Members of Miller's family called for a severe sentence, emphasizing the irreversible loss of their loved one and the far-reaching impact of Komoroski's decisions that night. Komoroski faced the family, including Hutchinson, as they spoke, occasionally wiping away tears during their heartfelt statements.
Hutchinson secured $863,000 in legal settlements from three bars that served Komoroski, as well as from her insurance provider and the car rental company she used.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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