Groom whose bride was killed by drunk driver on wedding night accepts major settlement
A newlywed whose wife was killed by a drunk driver in 2023 has accepted a financial settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit.
On 28 April, 2023, Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson tied the knot in Folly Beach, South Carolina. However, the couple's big day ended in tragedy when Jamie Lee Komoroski smashed into the back of a golf cart taking them to their hotel that night.
It was later revealed that Komoroski, who was 25 at the time, was drunk when she got behind the wheel of the rental car after bar hopping across the city, and had been driving at 65mph when she crashed into the couple.
She was sentenced to 25 years behind bars after pleading guilty to a felony charge for a DUI causing death, as well as two felony charges for a DUI causing great bodily injury, and another charge for reckless homicide.
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Over a year on from her sentencing, Hutchinson has now reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed after his wife's death.
Hutchinson had sued both Komoroski and local bars in the area over the wrongful death of his wife in numerous lawsuits, with an attorney for the widower confirming that a settlement of $160,000 (£118,600) had been awarded to Hutchinson, PEOPLE reports, on 8 December.
He will receive a total $104,586.67 (£77,675), with the remainder of the money covering legal fees.
In return, Hutchinson will not pursue any further claims against his wife's death.
The case is the last of the 38-year-old's lawsuits, as he had previously sued Progressive Auto Insurance, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and numerous South Carolina bars.
A settlement was reached in June 2024, seeing Hutchinson, his wife's estate and the two other victims in the golf cart be awarded damages of $1.3 million (£965,932).
This was reduced to $863,300 (£641,517) after attorney fees.
Samantha died at the scene of the accident from blunt force injuries, while Hutchinson, as well as two other family members riding in the golf cart, suffered numerous injuries.
Hutchinson was required to undergo numerous surgeries after breaking both of his legs, as well as several bones in his face and suffering a brain injury.
He would learn about his wife's death while recovering in hospital hours after the accident, waking from surgery to learn about Samantha's passing.
He recalled their heartbreaking final conversation in court during Komoroski's trial, revealing that Samantha had told him she didn't want the night to end.
"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," he said.
Brenna Cooper