WPBN: On Monday, a New Jersey woman who acknowledged to drinking and driving more than twice the speed limit when she struck a golf cart and killed a newlywed bride on a South Carolina beach was given a 25-year jail sentence.
Before being sentenced, 27-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski entered a guilty plea at the Charleston County courthouse to two counts of felony DUI causing serious bodily injury, felony DUI causing death, and reckless murder.
At the Charleston County courthouse, Judge Deadra Jefferson sentenced 27-year-old Komoroski to a maximum of 25 years in prison for felony DUI causing death.
In addition, she received sentences of 10 years in jail for reckless homicide and 15 years in prison for each county of felony DUI causing grave bodily injury. All of the sentences will run simultaneously.
According to the police, on April 28, 2023, she was driving 65 mph on a little Folly Beach road with a 25 mph speed restriction after drinking at multiple pubs when she collided with the golf cart as it was leaving a wedding.
Her blood alcohol content was 0.26%, over three times the legal driving limit.
Samantha Miller, 34, the bride, passed away while still wearing her bridal gown. The groom had multiple fractured bones and a head injury. The impact threw the cart 100 yards.
Komoroski stated that she became aware of her alcohol addiction after entering a guilty plea and that she was self-centered enough to disregard the consequences of her conduct.
She vowed to aid addicts and raise awareness of the risks of drinking and driving for the rest of her life. She expressed her regret for her actions, saying she was “devastated, deeply ashamed, and sorry.”
“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,” she stated.
In court, Aric Hutchinson sobbed as he reminisced about his final moments with his new bride.
“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 stated.
He said that due of the bodily harm and psychological distress caused by the collision, he visits more doctors and therapists than he can count and that he thinks about it daily.
Hutchinson received $863,000 in settlements from her insurance company, the business where she rented her automobile, and three bars that catered to Komoroski.
Komoroski was given a maximum sentence of 25 years by Judge Deadra Jefferson on the felony DUI causing death count. She was also given a 10-year jail sentence for reckless homicide and a 15-year sentence for each count of felony DUI inflicting grave bodily injury.
All of the sentences will run simultaneously.
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Miller’s father told Komoroski prior to the sentencing that he was disgusted by her seeming inability to accept responsibility. She may apologize, he said, but he would not hear it.
“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 stated. “You have ruined so many people’s lives.”
