New Jersey woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for driving drunk and killing bride in South Carolina

A New Jersey woman who admitted to drinking alcohol and driving well over twice the speed limit when she crashed into a golf cart, killing a bride who had just gotten married on a South Carolina beach, turned 25 on Monday sentenced to years in prison.

Jamie Lee Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty at the Charleston County Courthouse to involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence causing death and two counts of driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury before announcing the sentence.

Komoroski, 27, was sentenced by Judge Deadra Jefferson at the Charleston County Courthouse to a maximum of 25 years in prison for drunken driving resulting in death. She was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for each county felony driving under the influence and aggravated assault and 10 years for involuntary manslaughter. The sentences will all run at the same time.

Police said she was drinking at several bars on April 28, 2023, and was driving 65 mph on a narrow Folly Beach road with a 25 mph speed limit when she crashed into the golf cart while leaving a wedding. Her blood alcohol level was 0.26%, more than three times the legal driving limit.

The bride, 34-year-old Samantha Miller, died in her wedding dress. The groom suffered a brain injury and numerous broken bones. The impact caused the car to be thrown 100 meters.

After pleading guilty, Komoroski said she now realized she was addicted to alcohol and selfishly didn’t care about the impact her actions had on others. She promised to spend the rest of her life helping addicts and warning them about the dangers of drunk driving. She said she was “devastated, deeply ashamed and regretful” for what she had done.

“I wish I could go back and undo this terrible tragedy. But I can’t. “I will live the rest of my life with deep regret for what happened that night,” she said.

Aric Hutchinson wept in court as he recalled the final moments he spent with his new wife.

“On the golf cart she told me she didn’t want the night to end and I kissed her on the forehead. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital,” Hutchinson said.

He said that because of the physical injuries and mental anguish of the accident, he saw more doctors and therapists than he could count and that he thought about it every day.

“I wish I had died that night. I wish I had seen it coming. “I would have jumped off the golf cart, so you would have just run me over,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson won $863,000 in legal settlements with three bars that served Komoroski, as well as her insurance company and the company from which she rented her car.

Judge Deadra Jefferson sentenced Komoroski to a maximum sentence of 25 years for the crime of driving under the influence resulting in death. She was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for each count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily harm and 10 years for involuntary manslaughter. The sentences will all run at the same time.

Before the sentencing, Miller’s father told Komoroski he was outraged that she never seemed to accept responsibility. He told her she could apologize, but he didn’t listen to a word.

“For the rest of my life I will hate you, and when I get to hell and you get there, I will open the door for you,” said Brad Warner. “You ruined so many people’s lives.”