After bride Samantha Miller was tragically killed on her wedding day, husband Aric Hutchinson has spoken out for the first time.
This comes after the groom, together with his wife’s relatives, had to begin the heartbreaking work of preparing his wife’s funeral.
Read on for the full story.
Samantha Miller, 34, died just hours after her wedding.
Leaving behind her husband Aric Hutchinson.
Aric has also sustained horrific injuries.
The pair were leaving their reception in South Carolina in a decorated golf cart.
When another cart hit them.
This second cart was reportedly going at twice the speed limit.
Miller’s cart was flipped over several times, and thrown many yards.
Hutchison suffered broken bones and a brain injury.
Police say 25-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski was the driver of the other cart.
Andrew Gilreath, public safety director for the Folly Beach area said she was driving at 65mph in a 25mph zone.
The groom’s mother created a Go Fund Me Page.
She’s raised over $40,000 to pay for her daughter-in-law’s funeral and her son’s medical bills.
“Samantha was killed instantly,” she wrote.
“Garrett, Brogan and Aric were transferred to a hospital where they are recovering. Aric now has to continue on without the love of his life.”
“Sam Miller was pure love. There isn’t and won’t be another person on this planet that shined the way she did.”
“She was loud. Not with her voice but with her heart. She could make anyone, anywhere smile ear to ear, probably with a vulgar joke.”
“She made the uncomfortable comfortable and brought peace, confidence, and laughter to everyone around her.”
“Love at first sight wasn’t just possible with her, it was a given. Her smile would make you fall in love in an instant.”
“She was the one person everyone knew would never ever give up on them. She was unbelievably special.”
“Samantha was fearless and that’s exactly how she spent the last day of her life. She was so excited to start her life with Aric. She had no nerves or hesitation that day. You could feel the love on the beach.”
“But she was more than just a bride. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend to all, a mother to two cats. She was a beautiful person, inside and out, who just wanted to make the people around her smile.”
“Please donate whatever you can give to our family. We are going through unimaginable pain and need all of the help we can get.”
Komoroski was detained and charged with three counts of felony DUI causing severe bodily harm or death.
Plus one count of reckless homicide.
Miller’s sister Mandi Jenkins also spoke to KTSM about the tragedy.
“Thirty-four, wants to be a mom.”
“And she can’t.”
“My sister, a daughter, a wife, died in her wedding dress because someone made a terrible decision to get in the car.”
Samantha’s husband Aric has now returned home from hospital.
An update to Aric’s GoFundMe reads: “From the accident Aric received multiple injuries including two broken legs, one which had to be surgically repaired.”
“Broken bones in his face which also had to be surgically repaired.”
“Broken vertebrae in his back, brain bleeds, and numerous cuts with stitches.”
“He is physically recovering at home while trying to come to terms with the loss of his beautiful wife.”
“Now he is doing the unimaginable of planning Sam’s funeral along with her family.”
Since the devastating story hit headlines, Jamie Komoroski’s lawyers have spoken out to defend the driver.
As the matter is still pending, her attorneys have now urged the public not to “rush to judgement,” stating that “all facts will come to light” in court.
In a recent statement, attorneys Nathan S. Williams and Christopher S. Gramiccioni said: “We cannot fathom what the families are going through and offer our deepest sympathies.
“We simply ask that there not be a rush to judgment. Our court system is founded upon principles of justice and mercy and that is where all facts will come to light.”
Now, husband Aric has spoken out for the first time since the accident.
He also visited the beach him and Samantha got married on, and spoke about his devastating loss.
He visited the beach with family members who went into the sea to throw flowers with ‘Sam’ written on the stems into the ocean. Aric spoke about what his wife would have made of the tribute:
“She would’ve loved it. This is Sam. I mean, she’s a beach girl, through and through. We do walk here almost every morning, and this is her send-off for sure. She’s up there smiling for sure,” he said.
“I’m feeling pretty good. My body’s getting back to where I can manage, I guess. It’s just as good as I can feel with the situation, but obviously, today and the outpouring of people was just amazing. I know Sam would love it.
“It’s a little overwhelming; but it’s, I mean, they’re sincere, genuine, good-hearted people that are just reaching out that felt a reason to, or somehow they were touched by Sam. It just means the world. She left that impact.”
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this unimaginable tragedy.
Rest in peace.