A tragic accident occurred in South Carolina during a wedding celebration when an intoxicated driver crashed into a golf cart carrying a newlywed couple, causing the bride’s death and severely injuring the groom and other passengers.
On a Friday evening, 34-year-old Samantha “Sam” Hutchinson and her husband, Aric Hutchinson, had just left their wedding reception in Folly Beach on a golf cart when 25-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski, allegedly under the influence, struck the vehicle from behind at high speed. Samantha did not survive the crash. Moments before the incident, she had been photographed happy and smiling.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by Aric’s mother, the golf cart, driven by Aric’s relatives Ben Garrett and Brogan Garrett, was hurled over 100 yards and rolled several times due to the impact. Komoroski was traveling at 65 mph in a 25 mph zone when she hit the cart.
Aric Hutchinson sustained a brain injury, multiple fractures, and extensive facial bruising. He is in critical condition and has undergone two reconstructive surgeries. Ben Garrett is also said to be in serious condition.
Officers arrested Komoroski at the scene and charged her with DUI resulting in death and reckless homicide. Investigators confirmed she was driving at 65 mph.
According to authorities, Komoroski refused a sobriety test and was uncooperative and intoxicated at the scene. She faces three counts of felony DUI causing significant bodily injury or death and one count of reckless homicide. After telling a police officer she wanted to end her life, she was placed on suicide watch.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $500,000 to cover Samantha Hutchinson’s funeral costs and Aric Hutchinson’s medical bills.
There have been several unfortunate instances in which newlywed couples have faced tragedy shortly after their wedding.
In July 2013, a couple from Kansas, Jana and Austin Wesson, were involved in a car accident just one day after their wedding. The driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree, resulting in Austin’s death at the scene and Jana succumbing to her injuries a few days later.
In May 2018, a Canadian couple, Will Reid and Jamie McKenzie, died hours after their wedding when their car collided with a truck in Texas. The accident occurred as they were traveling to a hotel following their wedding reception.
In September 2019, newlyweds Brian and Christina Mauro had a car accident in Upland, California, while on their way to their honeymoon destination. Christina died at the scene, and Brian sustained critical injuries.
In October 2020, a couple from Texas, Harley Morgan and Rhiannon Boudreaux, died in a car accident minutes after getting married. Their car collided with a pickup truck as they were leaving the courthouse where they had just exchanged vows.
