A grieving husband has revealed the heartbreaking final words his wife spoke before she was killed by a drunk driver just hours after their wedding ceremony.
Samantha Miller, 34, died on April 28, 2023, after a vehicle crashed into the golf cart carrying her and her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, as they left their wedding reception in South Carolina.
What should have been the beginning of their married life ended in tragedy, leaving Aric seriously injured and their families devastated.
During an emotional court hearing, the surviving groom recalled the couple's final moments together and the words his bride spoke shortly before the collision.
What were Samantha Miller's final words?
According to her husband, Samantha's final words were that she "didn't want the night to end."
Aric Hutchinson recalled the moment during a court hearing for the driver responsible for the collision.
He explained that after Samantha expressed how much she wanted their wedding night to continue, he kissed her on the head.
His next memory was waking up in hospital.
The simple remark has become a particularly heartbreaking detail of the tragedy, as Samantha had been celebrating her marriage just moments before losing her life.
For Aric, the memory remains one of the last moments he shared with his wife.
What happened to Samantha Miller on her wedding night?
Samantha and Aric had married earlier on April 28, 2023, before celebrating with family and friends in Folly Beach, South Carolina.
After the reception, the newlyweds travelled away from the venue in a golf cart.
However, their journey was interrupted when a car driven by Jamie Lee Komoroski collided with the vehicle.
The impact was devastating.
Samantha suffered fatal injuries and died, while Aric sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg.
Other people travelling in the golf cart were also injured.
Investigators subsequently established that Komoroski had been driving while intoxicated.
How fast was the drunk driver travelling?
According to prosecutors, Komoroski had been drinking at several bars before getting behind the wheel.
She was accused of travelling at approximately 65mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 25mph.
That meant her vehicle was travelling around 40mph above the speed limit when the fatal collision occurred.
The crash happened as Samantha and Aric were leaving their wedding celebrations, turning what had been a joyful occasion into a devastating loss for their loved ones.
How did Aric Hutchinson discover his wife had died?
Aric was taken to hospital following the collision, where he regained consciousness without immediately understanding what had happened.
During the court hearing, he described seeing his mother wearing the same dress she had worn to the wedding the previous evening.
He asked about Samantha, but quickly realised she was not there.
The moment marked the beginning of a devastating reality for the newlywed husband.
Rather than waking up beside his wife at the start of their marriage, he was left confronting the news that she had died only hours after their wedding.
Husband's devastating statement in court
During Komoroski's sentencing hearing, Aric addressed the court about the impact of Samantha's death.
He described how the collision had taken away his happiness and left him struggling to find meaning in everyday life.
In one particularly emotional statement, he admitted that he sometimes wished he had died alongside his wife so she would not have been alone.
Aric also explained that he continued to think about the wedding night and their final moments together every day.
His testimony illustrated the lasting emotional impact of the crash, extending far beyond the physical injuries he suffered.
What sentence did Jamie Lee Komoroski receive?
Komoroski pleaded guilty to charges including felony driving under the influence, DUI offences causing death or serious bodily injury, and reckless homicide.
In December 2024, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
During the sentencing hearing, Komoroski accepted responsibility for her actions and apologised to Samantha's family.
She acknowledged that choosing to drink and drive had resulted in the death of a newly married woman.
Komoroski expressed remorse and said she would continue to feel ashamed of what she had done.
However, Samantha's relatives made clear that an apology could not undo the devastation caused by her actions.
What did Samantha's father say to the driver?
Samantha's father, Brad Warner, delivered an emotional statement during the sentencing proceedings.
He spoke about the anger and grief he continued to experience following his daughter's death.
Warner made clear that he was not prepared to accept Komoroski's apology and described the immense damage the collision had caused to numerous lives.
His remarks reflected the suffering experienced by Samantha's family, who had gone from celebrating her wedding to mourning her death within hours.
Did Aric Hutchinson receive compensation?
Following the collision, Aric pursued legal claims connected to the circumstances surrounding the crash.
According to reporting cited by VT, he received approximately $863,000 in legal settlements involving three bars, Komoroski's insurance company and the business from which she leased her vehicle.
The settlements addressed civil claims arising from the tragedy and were separate from the criminal proceedings against Komoroski.
Although the compensation provided a financial resolution to parts of the case, it could not reverse the loss of Samantha or the injuries Aric sustained.
A wedding night that ended in tragedy
More than three years after the collision, Samantha Miller's story remains a devastating reminder of the consequences of drink-driving.
The couple had spent their wedding day surrounded by loved ones, celebrating a future they expected to share.
Instead, Samantha lost her life and Aric was left recovering from serious injuries while grieving his wife.
Her final remark about not wanting the night to end has taken on a particularly painful meaning for those who knew her.
For Aric and Samantha's family, the tragedy permanently changed what should have been one of the happiest days of their lives.
Source: VT, November 12, 2025, citing court testimony and reporting from The Mirror.
