A South Carolina judge has approved a partial settlement of over $1 million for a newlywed husband who lost his wife in 2023, hours after their wedding.
In April 2023, Jamie Lee Komoroski, 26, allegedly drove under the influence and collided with the golf cart carrying the newlyweds Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson, along with Hutchinson’s brother-in-law and nephew, in Folly Beach.
The collision killed Samantha and injured Hutchinson and the passengers.
In May 2023, Hutchinson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Komoroski, along with several local bars and businesses, and 20 “Doe” defendants. Last October, some of those businesses reached a tentative settlement with Hutchinson, which the court approved on Thursday, according to CBS News.
Hutchinson claimed that Komoroski spent the night “bar hopping” and accused several establishments, including The Crab Shack, Taco Boy, The Drop In/Folly Deli, Snapper Jacks, and El Gallo, of continuing to serve her alcohol even after she was visibly intoxicated.
The court has mandated the following payments as part of the settlement:
- $640,000 from The Crab Shack
- $320,000 from The Folly Deli
- $320,000 from Snapper Jacks
- $75,000 from Progressive Northern Insurance Company
- $24,000 from Enterprise Rent-a-Car
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Hutchinson was pronounced dead shortly after 10 p.m. on April 28, 2023. The couple had just gotten married and were leaving their wedding reception when the crash occurred.
According to an arrest affidavit, Komoroski became “uncooperative” with police and claimed she was not drunk and had a beer and one shot of tequila around an hour before the crash. A responding officer, however, noted that Komoroski had trouble standing and smelled of alcohol.
Komoroski also “strongly refused” a field sobriety test. Police arrested her and subsequently obtained a blood test. Her blood alcohol content was “0.261, more than three times the legal limit,” according to a toxicology report.
Komoroski was also named in the lawsuit but was not part of the settlement. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Hutchinson Couple/GoFundMe]
