The story of Aric Hutchinson is one of devastating loss and long, painful survival. In April 2023, just hours after marrying the love of his life, Samantha Miller, the couple left their wedding reception in Folly Beach on a golf cart, believing their happiest day was still unfolding. Instead, their lives were shattered when a drunk driver slammed into them at high speed. Samantha was killed instantly, and Aric was left with severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. What should have been the beginning of a shared future became the start of years marked by grief, recovery, and the unimaginable task of learning to live without his wife. In court, Aric later shared Samantha’s final words—that she didn’t want the night to end—words that haunt the space between joy and tragedy.

The driver, Jamie Lee Komoroski, pleaded guilty to multiple felony DUI charges and reckless homicide, receiving a 25-year prison sentence, served concurrently with additional terms. While no legal outcome could ever equal justice for a life lost, Aric pursued accountability through wrongful death lawsuits against Komoroski and the establishments that served her alcohol. Over time, partial and final settlements totaled just over a million dollars before fees—money that can never replace love, but helps close a painful legal chapter. During sentencing, Komoroski expressed remorse, admitting her decision to drink and drive destroyed lives. For Aric, the settlements and sentencing are not about closure, but acknowledgment. His story stands as a heartbreaking reminder that one reckless choice can erase a lifetime of dreams—and that responsibility, though delayed, still matters.