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CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – This week marked the conclusion of a wrongful death lawsuit as a final settlement was approved for a groom who tragically lost his bride in a DUI-related golf cart accident in South Carolina earlier this year.
Aric Hutchinson will receive $160,000 from the insurer of Jamie Komoroski, whose intoxicated driving led to the fatal crash on April 28, 2023. The incident occurred when Komoroski’s vehicle collided with the golf cart carrying Hutchinson and his wife, Samantha Miller (Hutchinson), as they were returning from their wedding celebration on Folly Beach. The crash resulted in Samantha’s death and left Aric seriously injured.
Out of the $160,000 settlement, Hutchinson will personally receive $104,586.67 after deductions for legal fees and additional costs. This settlement concludes Hutchinson’s wrongful death lawsuit, which targeted multiple Folly Beach bars, businesses, and Komoroski herself, who was reportedly involved in “bar hopping” before the tragic event.
Charleston County court records indicate that Hutchinson’s attorney signed off on the settlement on his behalf on Tuesday. As part of the agreement, Komoroski will no longer face civil claims related to the incident.
The settlement approval was documented following a hearing on Monday, solidifying the terms of the agreement.
A judge previously approved settlements from The Drop-In, the Crab Shack, and Snapper Jacks alongside settlements with Progressive Auto Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car during a motion hearing on June 18, 2024, according to attorneys representing Hutchinson.
The previous settlements totaled more than $863,300, which were awarded to Hutchinson.
Komoroski was sentenced in connection with the crash on Dec. 2, 2024, to 25 years for the charge of felony DUI resulting in death, which is the maximum sentence for the charge.