A badly injured groom has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home while planning his wife’s funeral after she was killed when an alleged drunk driver plowed into their ATV as they left the reception.
Aric Hutchinson suffered two broken legs, numerous broken facial bones, a brain bleed, and multiple cuts, his mother, Annette Hutchinson, wrote in a GoFundMe.
Two other family members were injured in the crash, Annette Hutchinson wrote — her son-in-law Ben Garrett and grandson Brogan Garrett.
“Ben is recovering in the burn unit where he underwent surgery to clean out and redress his severe road rash and open wounds,” she wrote. ” … Thankfully Brogan only suffered minor injuries.”
As for Aric, she said, “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.
Meanwhile, lawyers for the South Carolina woman accused of fatally injuring Samantha “Sam” Hutchinson on April 28 want the public to refrain from hastily passing judgment on the situation.
Last week, 25-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski hired two prominent lawyers, Nathan S. Williams and Christopher S. Gramiccioni, to represent her in her legal proceedings.
The couple had just left their wedding reception when the tragedy occurred, as CrimeOnline previously reported. Initial reports indicated that the couple was on a golf cart when the incident happened, but police confirmed they were on an LSV (low-speed vehicle), which is similar to a golf cart but legal to drive on roads.
New York Post reports that Williams, recognized for his role as a former federal prosecutor, gained prominence for his involvement in prosecuting mass murderer Dylann Roof, ultimately obtaining a death sentence verdict from the jury. Gramiccioni was Monmouth County, New Jersey, prosecutor for almost a decade before transitioning to private practice in 2021.
In a written statement to the Post & Courier, the lawyers offered their sympathies but urged the public to allow “all facts” to come out.
“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.”
According to an arrest affidavit, Komoroski became “uncooperative” with police; she claimed she was not drunk and had a beer and one shot of tequila around an hour before the crash, NBC 2 reports. 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. The test results have not been revealed.
Samantha was pronounced dead shortly before 10 p.m. Friday night after Komoroski smashed into the LSV in the 1200 block of E. Ashley Avenue.
The incident happened on a “tight road squeezed by houses, businesses, parked cars,” according to the Courier, that’s “nearly lightless” at night.
Director of the Folly Beach Public Safety Department, Andrew Gilreath, said he has visited the site multiple after he was called out to the crash scene on the night of the incident.
“One of the things for me that was so eye-opening about the situation was in public safety, you try to mentally insulate yourself from what you’re seeing and dealing with,” he said.
“I went home that night and was talking to my wife about what happened and she was visibly upset. I remember thinking, ‘She wasn’t even there and she’s visibly upset about it.’ It really is such a big deal. It’s a tragedy. For nonsense. For no reason.”
Gilreath added that the LSV was legal to drive and had its light on when struck.
Komoroski is facing a negligent homicide and DUI involving death. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Jamie Lee Komoroski/Instagram; Hutchinson couple/Handout]
