Aric Hutchinson, a man who lost his wife on their wedding day after she was hit by a drunk-driver, has spoken out about his feelings after the accident.
On April 28, just after Aric and Samantha Hutchinson had been married at a venue in Folly Beach, South Carolina, a golf cart carrying them and two other family members was hit by a car allegedly driven by 25-year-old Jamie Komoroski, who has since been charged with three counts of driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury/death, and one count of reckless homicide.
Sam was tragically killed in the crash, whilst Aric and another passenger were seriously injured.
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The other passenger was mercifully not seriously hurt.
According to a toxicology report, Komoroski was three times over the legal driving limit, and was driving 65mph in a 25mph zone.
In a statement, her lawyers said: "We cannot fathom what the families are going through and offer our deepest sympathies.
“We simply ask that there not be a rush to judgment.
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“Our court system is founded upon principles of justice and mercy and that is where all facts will come to light."
Now, Aric has given his first thoughts on what happened that night publicly, after filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Komoroski and several local bars and restaurants that served her alcohol that night.
In an emotional interview with Good Morning America, Aric said: "I do remember the last thing I remember her saying was she wanted the night to never end.
“[After the crash] I remember waking up, just kinda foggy, out of sorts, and I could see my mom’s face and you could just tell something was wrong, and I asked her ‘where’s Sam, where’s Sam?’
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“That’s when she told me, [there was an] incident, and that Sam didn’t make it.”
Asked if he had any message for Komoroski, he said: “No, I can’t right now.
“She stole something… she stole an amazing human being that should not have been taken.”
Komoroski’s employer and supervisor have also been named in Hutchinson’s lawsuit, accused of ‘pressuring’ her to attend a function and consume ‘excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages’ on the night in question.
The employer said that there was no ‘officially organized employee function around drinking’ and that Komoroski had just started training for the job.
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Aric is now concentrating on his recovery, trying to keep the happy memories of his life with Sam alive.
He’s moved back into the apartment they shared together, and can still feel her there.
"It's hard, but it's also nice. It's got Sam written all over the house," he said.
"I know she's up there watching, just laughing at me trying to get up and down these stairs because it was her decision to go to the third floor."
Tom Wood