Family of Bride Killed on Wedding Night in South Carolina Awarded $1.3 Million Settlement
A judge in South Carolina approved a $1.3 million partial settlement for the case of a bride who was killed, allegedly by a drunk driver, just hours after her wedding, according to media reports.
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 26, is accused of crashing her rental car into a golf cart carrying Samantha Miller, 34, and her new husband Aric Hutchinson near Charleston, South Carolina, on April 28, 2023.
Miller died in the crash, and Hutchinson was severely injured.
Two other passengers in the cart were also injured in the tragic accident.
According to WCSC, the settlement proceeds will go to Miller’s estate and the other injured individuals.
The bars that served Komoroski before the crash and the rental car company she used are responsible for the settlement amount.
Hutchinson and his attorney Danny Dalton were in court on Tuesday to finalize the settlement, which will provide $863,000 after fees, according to WCSC.
Dalton stated that the amount was lower than expected due to an ongoing dispute over the estate between Hutchinson and the deceased bride’s mother, Lisa Miller, who questioned the legality of the marriage.
Lisa Miller has disagreed with Hutchinson’s camp over the settlement distribution and has requested the court to replace Hutchinson as the estate representative.
“Samantha Miller was killed in a traffic accident,” Dalton said, according to FOX Carolina. “Her husband, Aric Hutchinson, is the appropriate representative for the estate.”
Komoroski, who was allegedly driving 65 mph in a 25 mph zone, was arrested at the scene and charged with felony DUI resulting in death, reckless homicide, and two counts of felony DUI causing great bodily injury.
She was released on bond in March, and her criminal case is ongoing.
Komoroski is currently under house arrest awaiting further court proceedings.
Other defendants, including the restaurant where Komoroski worked at the time, have not yet settled with the plaintiffs. The impact of the crash sent the golf cart flying 100 feet, flipping it multiple times before coming to a stop. If convicted, Komoroski faces a prison sentence of one to 25 years for the most serious charge.