Aric Hutchinson and Samantha Miller exchanged vows on April 28, 2023, and danced under a starry sky near the Atlantic coast to celebrate their new life as a married couple.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck as they were leaving their wedding reception on Folly Beach, an island off the coast of South Carolina. They were hit by a drunk driver and Samantha, 34, was killed. Aric and two others were injured.
According to reports, the driver was driving 65 mph in a 25 mph zone and only briefly hit the brakes before crashing into the low-speed vehicle (LSV) that the couple and their relatives were traveling in. The LSV was legal to drive at night and had lights on. The force of the collision sent the LSV about 100 yards and caused it to roll several times before coming to a stop.
Komoroski, the driver of the rental car, smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on her feet. She admitted to officers that she had consumed one beer and one tequila an hour prior to the accident. She is facing three counts of drunk driving causing death and reckless vehicular homicide and could face one to 25 years in prison on each charge.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help pay for Samantha’s funeral expenses, medical expenses for Aric and his relatives, and support the family. The campaign has already raised almost $600,000. Another campaign was started to support the family and has raised approximately $37,000 so far.
This tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of drunk driving. Our thoughts and prayers are with Aric and their families during this difficult time.