The widower of the woman killed by an alleged drunk driver on their wedding night has spoken about losing his wife, describing her as an “amazing human being who should never have been taken”.
In an interview with ABC, Aric Hutchinson broke down as he struggled to recall the incident that killed Samantha Miller, 34, and severely injured him moments after they left their wedding reception in South Carolina last month.
“The last thing I remember her saying is she wanted the night to never end,” Hutchinson told Good Morning America (GMA).
Miller died after Jamie Lee Komoroski crashed into the golf buggy the newlyweds were using on a beach road close to the reception venue, causing it to roll over several times. Investigators say Komoroski was driving at 65mph in a 25mph zone, and had blood alcohol levels three times higher than the legal limit.
Miller, from Charlotte, North Carolina, died at the scene.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. That night going from an all-time high to an all-time low, it’s pretty tough to try to comprehend,” said Hutchinson on GMA, but declined to comment on Komoroski.
Hutchinson suffered a brain injury, two broken legs and several fractures in his back and face. He recently returned home to the couple’s apartment after multiple surgeries. Miller’s brother and nephew, who were in the golf cart, were also injured.
“I remember waking up foggy, out of sorts. I could see my mom’s face and could tell something was wrong. ‘Where’s Sam, where’s Sam?’ I asked her. That’s when she told me there was an incident and Sam didn’t make it,” Hutchinson told GMA.
On Wednesday, Hutchinson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Komoroski and several local bars and restaurants where she had allegedly been drinking before driving. He is also suing Komoroski’s employer and supervisor, accusing them of pressuring her to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. In a statement to ABC, her employer said Komoroski had just started training and “there was no officially organized employee function around drinking”.
Komoroski has been charged with reckless homicide and three DUIs. She faces up to 25 years in prison for each DUI. Her attorneys have urged the public “not to rush to judgment”.
