Lisa Miller: Mother of newlywed bride Samantha Hutchinson who was killed by drunk driver urges not to drink and drive
FOLLY BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA: Lisa Miller, the mother of newlywed bride Samantha Hutchinson, who was killed by an alleged drunk driver shortly after her wedding, has shared the heart-wrenching final moments she spent with her on what should have been the happiest day of her life. Samantha, 34, and her husband Aric Hutchinson were exiting their wedding celebration in a golf cart when a drunk driver Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, rear-ended them. The impact was so severe that the golf cart was thrown at a distance of 91 meters.
In this devastating incident, Samantha lost her life, while her husband Aric sustained multiple injuries and was promptly transported to a hospital for treatment. Miller was relaxing on the balcony of her short-term rental, having changed her clothes and poured herself a glass of wine, when the sound of sirens shattered the peace and gave her the first indication that her daughter’s wedding night had gone awry. A distraught Miller rode with her new in-laws to the crash site, after which she spent hours outside a hospital. However, she later learned that Samantha's father had identified her body at the crash site.
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Samantha was remembered as a positive person who cared for everyone around her. Her mother recalled how, during the reception, Samantha had the DJ make a surprise announcement for a dance with "the most important person in the bride’s life” which turned out to be her mother. Miller and her daughter were soon dancing to 'Just the Way You Are' by Bruno Mars. “Sam doesn’t want this to destroy our lives,” Miller said. “We know that.”
Miller and her daughter Mandi Jenkins are now advocating for people to avoid drunk driving and use ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft instead. They hope their message will make people understand that drunk driving can have severe consequences for a “real family” like theirs. “We hope that whoever sees this — maybe it will help somebody that has made those poor decisions before stop or maybe not ever make that decision by seeing that real people are affected,” she said. State Rep Spencer Wetmore has also pledged to work towards making roads safer after a “horrible tragedy” that she claimed, “has completely broken my heart.”
'He’s going to need a lot of support physically and emotionally!'
Despite her initial desire to leave the beach town where her daughter's life was tragically cut short, Lisa Miller has been touched by the support of the community around her. They have received meals and have even been offered an oceanside condo to stay in for a month free of charge. Miller now hopes to move there permanently, surrounded by "good-hearted, genuinely caring people." She and her daughter, Mandi, are also committed to supporting the recovery of Aric, the groom. “When he gets out of the hospital, it’s not going to be over. He’s going to need a lot of support physically and emotionally,” Mandi said. “And we will be there for him, too.”
A GoFundMe page created by Aric Hutchinson’s mother has raised over $860,000 to help pay for Samantha’s burial and Aric’c ongoing medical treatment. “Aric is in serious condition and has had one of two reconstruction surgeries, numerous broken bones, and a brain injury, he will have a long recovery,” Annette Hutchinson wrote. “I was handed Aric’s wedding ring in a plastic bag at the hospital, five hours after Sam placed it on his finger and they read each other their vows. Aric has lost the love of his life,” she added. Komoroski, 25, has been charged with reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death or great bodily injury.
