Janice R. Andrews
Aric Hutchinson, Samantha Miller’s late husband, has received a little over $1.3 million partial wrongful death settlement in a heartbreaking case involving an alleged DUI crash on their wedding night. On April 28, 2023, the couple left their reception in Folly Beach, South Carolina, and were struck by an alleged drunk driver. Miller lost his life in the collision, while Hutchinson suffered numerous wounds.
Documents filed in Charleston County Court on June 19th, explain the specific amounts that a judge has ordered the following businesses to pay Hutchinson as part of the settlement:
- $640,000 at The Crab Shack
- $320,000 for The Folly Deli/The Drop In Bar & Deli
- Seaside Bars and Snapper Jack’s: $320,000
- $75,000 from Progressive Northern Insurance Company
- $24,000 from Enterprise Rent-A-Car
These companies are charged with providing alcohol to the driver and hiring her the car that was involved in the collision.
Hutchinson has also sued Jamie Lee Komoroski for wrongful death, claiming that Komoroski crashed the rental car into the golf cart that was transporting Hutchinson and Miller. Komoroski has entered a not guilty plea to the charges of reckless homicide and three counts of felony DUI resulting in serious bodily harm.
According to a Folly Beach Police Department investigation, Komoroski’s blood alcohol content was 0.261%, significantly higher than South Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08%.
Attorney and legal fees will be subtracted from the $1.3 million settlement. No findings of wrongdoing by the parties involved were included in the ruling sanctioning the partial settlement.
