Samantha Miller death: Newlywed's golf cart had lights, was legal to drive at night, says official
FOLLY BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA: A bride, who lost her life soon after attending her wedding reception, was sitting inside a golf cart that had all features making it legal to drive at night, an official has said. Samantha Miller got married to Aric Hutchinson on April 28, but tragedy struck when they were leaving the party. The 34-year-old woman was reportedly still in her wedding dress at the time of the crash.
A 25-year-old drunk driver, identified as Jamie Lee Komoroski, has been accused of causing the fatal accident, which sent the groom to the hospital with severe injuries. Two more people, Benjamin Garrett and Brogan Garrett, suffered injuries because of the crash. Folly Beach Public Safety Department Director Andrew Gilreath said as reported by KHOU 11 that the golf cart used by the newlyweds had features like lights and was authorized to be driven after sunset.
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Besides, data from Komoroski’s rental car, which she was driving at the time, showed that her speed was 65 mph (105 km/h), way more than the legal limit of 25 mph (40 km/h) on the island near Charleston. The alleged killer of Miller has reportedly been slapped with charges, including, reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death. If found guilty, she can go behind bars for up to 25 years on each count.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been launched to cover Miller’s funeral and her husband’s hospital expenses. The message on the page said, “Sam Miller was pure love. There isn’t and won’t be another person on this planet that shined the way she did. She was loud. Not with her voice but with her heart. She could make anyone, anywhere smile ear to ear, probably with a vulgar joke. She made the uncomfortable comfortable and brought peace, confidence, and laughter to everyone around her.”
It continued, “Samantha was fearless and that's exactly how she spent the last day of her life. She was so excited to start her life with Aric. She had no nerves or hesitation that day. You could feel the love on the beach. But she was more than just a bride. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend to all, and a mother to two cats. She was a beautiful person, inside and out, who just wanted to make the people around her smile.”
It added, “Aric now has to continue on without the love of his life. Please donate whatever you can give to our family. We are going through unimaginable pain and need all of the help we can get.”
‘I was handed Aric’s wedding ring in a plastic bag'
One more GoFundMe has been started by Aric’s mother Annette Hutchinson, who shared, “Aric lost the love of his life when my new daughter-in-law Samantha “Sam" Hutchinson was tragically killed by a drunk driver moments after the picture above while leaving her wedding reception on April 28th in Folly Beach, South Carolina. My son is now in critical condition.”
She added, “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. This fundraiser will help pay for Sam's burial and medical costs for Aric and his family.”