Widower Reaches Final Settlement in Lawsuit Following Bride's Fatal Wedding Night Crash
A recent widower has agreed to a final resolution in the wrongful death lawsuit he pursued following his bride's fatal injury by an intoxicated driver on their wedding night.
Soon after Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson exchanged vows at a Folly Beach, South Carolina ceremony on April 28, 2023, she lost her life when Jamie Lee Komoroski struck the rear of the golf cart carrying the newlyweds back to their lodging. Komoroski, found to be under the influence during the collision, was traveling at a speed of 65 mph.
The final agreement for the lawsuit received approval on Tuesday, December 9. Hutchinson had previously initiated a wrongful death lawsuit naming Komoroski and several South Carolina establishments, alleging Komoroski had been "bar hopping" prior to the accident, as reported by WCBD, WRAL, and WCSC.
Under the terms of the settlement, Komoroski's car insurance provider will disburse $160,000 to Hutchinson. Hutchinson will personally receive $104,586.67 from the $160,000 total, with the balance allocated for legal expenses and associated fees, according to these news sources.
WCBD indicated that court records from Charleston County confirm Hutchinson's legal representative authorized the settlement for him. Komoroski is now absolved of additional civil litigation related to this tragic event.
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A judge had earlier sanctioned settlements involving the establishments The Drop-In, the Crab Shack, and Snapper Jacks, a fact confirmed by Hutchinson's lawyers to WCBD. Furthermore, additional agreements involving Progressive Auto Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car were finalized during a motion hearing on June 18, 2024.
Cumulatively, Hutchinson received approximately $863,300 in settlement funds. Miller, a passenger in the golf cart, passed away at age 34 from blunt force trauma suffered during the collision, as reported by People magazine.
Hutchinson himself sustained injuries in the crash, necessitating several surgeries after suffering fractures to both legs and numerous facial bones. According to a GoFundMe campaign organized by Hutchinson's mother, two additional family members were also harmed in the incident, having been "thrown more than 100 yards and rolled several times."
WCSC cited a toxicology report from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, stating Komoroski's blood alcohol content was 0.261 percent at the time of the accident. This measurement was three times higher than the legally permissible limit.
In December 2024, Komoroski received a 25-year prison sentence following her guilty plea to a felony count of DUI causing death, two felony counts of DUI causing significant bodily harm, and one count of reckless homicide.
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Hutchinson had previously discussed his ordeal on Good Morning America during a May 2023 segment.
He stated, “I recall waking up — feeling disoriented and unclear — and seeing my mother's face.” “It was evident something terrible had happened. I asked her, ‘Where is Sam, where is Sam?’ And at that moment, she informed me of the tragedy and that Sam had passed away.”
He further mentioned that he was still attempting to "comprehend" his wife's passing. Hutchinson reflected, “That evening transformed from the highest high to the lowest low. It is incredibly difficult to process. We had family and friends there from across the country—everywhere. Everyone was genuinely happy. She was so happy. It truly was [one of the best nights of my life]."
