Spouse of the deceised bride in a suspected DUI collision during their wedding night receives a $1.3 million compensation in a wrongful death settlement.
Aric Hutchinson and his newly wedded wife, Samantha Miller, sadly experienced a tragic accident involving an apparently intoxicated driver on April 28, 2023, as reported by CNN earlier. Sadly, Miller passed away, and Hutchinson sustained multiple injuries.
Judge's decision granted Hutchinson approximately $1.3 million from Folly Beach Deli/The Drop In Bar & Deli, The Crab Shack, Beach Front Bars, Snapper Jacks, Progressive Northern Insurance Company, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, as per the wrongful death settlement filed on June 19 in the Charleston County Court. The businesses allegedly over-served the driver alcohol, while Enterprise rented her the vehicle.
CNN reached out to the mentioned businesses for comment but has yet to receive any response.
It was previously reported that Hutchinson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jamie Lee Komoroski, who is accused of colliding a rented vehicle into a golf cart carrying Hutchinson and his bride after their wedding reception. Komoroski faces one charge of reckless homicide and three counts of felony DUI resulting in severe physical harm; she has pleaded not guilty.
So far, CNN has not received any comment from Komoroski's attorney regarding the lawsuit.
Last year, a report from the Folly Beach Police Department revealed that Komoroski had a blood alcohol content of 0.261%. South Carolina law disallows driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher, as reported by CNN earlier.
The total settlement amounts to approximately $1.3 million, but costs associated with legal fees will reduce this amount, as shown in court documents.
According to court documents, the following businesses have been ordered to pay the respective amounts:
- The Crab Shack - $640,000
- The Folly Deli/The Drop In Bar & Deli - $320,000
- Beach Front Bars/Snapper Jack’s - $320,000
- Progressive Northern Insurance Company - $75,000
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car - $24,000
The order approving the partial settlement does not include any admissions of wrongdoing.
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Hutchinson, as the surviving spouse, received the $1.3 million compensation from the settlement. US courts ordered various establishments, insurance companies, and rental companies to pay a portion of this amount due to their alleged role in serving alcohol to the intoxicated driver.
