Authorities in South Carolina reported that a drunk motorist crashed a golf cart carrying a bride and critically injured her groom as they were leaving their wedding reception.
Samantha "Sam" Hutchinson, 34, was pictured grinning from ear to ear as she exited the party at 10 p.m. She and her husband, Aric Hutchinson, were driven from their Folly Beach wedding venue moments before a drunk driver rearranged the golf cart, according to TV station WYFF 4.
Five hours after Sam put Aric's wedding band on and they exchanged vows, I was given Aric's wedding band in a plastic bag at the hospital, the bride's mother wrote on a GoFundMe page identifying the couple as crash victims.
"Aric has lost the love of his life," she said.
Hutchinson's mother said the newlyweds were being escorted in the golf cart by two relatives of the groom, Ben Garret and Brogan Garrett, who were also injured in the crash.
"The golf cart was thrown over 100 yards and rolled several times," the page said.
The car had "struck from behind by a drunk driver traveling 65 MPH in a 25 MPH zone," according to the GoFundMe.
Aric suffered a brain injury and broke numerous bones, his mother said. The majority of his face is bruised and he remains in serious condition at the hospital, where he has undergone two reconstructive surgeries.
Aric and Sam smiling as they left their wedding celebration Friday night in South Carolina, just before a drunk driver struck the golf cart they were in.
Ben, one of the passengers, is also in serious condition, according to the page.
The driver of the car, Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, was arrested and charged with DUI involving death and reckless homicide.
Komoroski's blood results are pending, but an investigation into the crash determined she was driving 65 mph when she struck the golf cart, police said.
Three people, including the groom (above), were seriously injured in the collision.
The groom and two of his relatives were injured and remain hospitalized.
The GoFundMe fundraiser, which was launched by Hutchinson's mother, will help pay for the bride's burial and medical costs for the groom and his family.
The couple made their home both in the groom's home state of Utah as well as South Carolina, according to the GoFundMe. The bride originally hailed from North Carolina.
Samantha's employer, XenTegra, an international IT provider based out of Huntersville, North Carolina, shared news of her death on LinkedIn, noting she was an "integral member" of its team.
Jamie Lee Komoroski was arrested and charged with DUI and reckless homicide.
"She carried a light about her, one that shined so brightly upon everyone with whom she interacted. Simply put, Samantha brought an abundance of joy and laughter to the workplace," the company wrote, noting she was a dedicated and detail-oriented worker who went above and beyond.
Samantha was a wonderful person, above and beyond her professional achievements. Our crew has been able to share in her enthusiasm over the past few months as she has shared images and intricate information about her impending wedding," the business said in a statement. Samantha's joy, smile, and commitment to her family, friends, and job will live on in our memories forever.
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