Aric Hutchinson and Samantha Miller were beginning their journey as husband and wife when an unimaginable tragedy struck. What should have been the happiest day of their lives ended in heartbreak and loss.
Just hours after exchanging vows, the couple departed their wedding reception on Folly Beach, South Carolina, in a low-speed vehicle (LSV) adorned with sparklers. Operated by Aric’s relatives, Benjamin and Brogan Garrett, the street-legal cart was heading toward the couple’s accommodation, just two blocks away, when disaster struck.
A rented Toyota driven by 25-year-old Jamie Lee Komoroski collided with the back of the LSV at high speed. Data revealed Komoroski was driving 65 mph in a 25 mph zone and had barely attempted to brake before the crash, which occurred around 10 p.m.
Tragically, Samantha died at the scene from blunt force injuries, while Aric suffered severe injuries, including broken bones and a brain injury. He remains in critical condition. Benjamin Garrett was also hospitalized with serious injuries, while Brogan was treated and later released.
Komoroski, allegedly under the influence at the time of the crash, faces charges of reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death. Each DUI charge carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison. Authorities confirmed the LSV was properly equipped with lights and legal for nighttime driving.
Samantha’s mother, devastated by the loss, shared her grief: “She literally ran into my daughter going 65 miles an hour. Sammie and Aric were on the back of the golf cart, and she just whammed my child.”
Samantha’s sister, Mandi Jenkins, recalled the horrifying moment: “We were sitting on the balcony in our pajamas and heard the sirens. They kept going and going. When my sister didn’t respond to my texts, we drove to the scene, and what we saw was devastating.”
Komoroski refused to provide a breath sample at the police station. A warrant was issued for blood samples, and results are pending.
In the wake of the tragedy, Aric’s mother, Annette Hutchinson, created a GoFundMe campaign to cover medical expenses and funeral costs. She wrote: “Aric has had one of two reconstruction surgeries, numerous broken bones, and a brain injury. He has lost the love of his life.” The fundraiser has raised nearly $600,000 as of Wednesday, far surpassing its $100,000 goal.
Another campaign, started by Samantha’s sister Mandi, has raised $37,000 of its $10,000 goal to honor Samantha’s memory.
“Samantha was fearless, and that’s exactly how she lived her last day,” Mandi wrote. “She was so excited to start her life with Aric. You could feel the love on that beach.”
Our deepest condolences go out to Samantha’s family and friends. May she rest in peace.
Please share this story to help spread awareness about the devastating impact of driving under the influence.
Mom leaves “baby” in car while she shops at Target – promises others that he’s OK
These days, it seems as though you can hardly move in public without running the risk of being discovered online.
We have truly entered the era of viral tales and clips, where funny, awkward, and occasionally extremely personal movies and images of ourselves can be published and shared instantly over the internet.
Of course, this can be exploited, but it can also occasionally be used for good; consider the instances in which people are called out for wrongdoing.
I think that’s what people on the internet thought was going on when an Instagram picture went viral in early March, supposedly showing a message written by a mother who had left her infant in the car to go shopping at Target.
Sufficient to halt the heart, surely? There’s more to this story than meets the eye, so don’t worry.
Influencer Bonnie Engle posted a reel on Instagram back in March, and it quickly went viral. The video has received millions of views and over 1,000 comments since it was posted.
The aforementioned video features a close-up of a handwritten message that has been taped inside a car window and says, “My baby is OK.” He’s got his drink and his nibbles! I’m in Target right now. Return soon!
It goes without saying that for many of the people who watched the video, the note alone was enough to startle.
However, many who were willing to watch the film quickly realized that Engle is more of a mischievous spouse than a terrible mother. The camera pans back a few seconds after the previously described close-up on the message in the window, exposing that Engle’s baby in the car is actually her husband.
“Please no judgment,” is how the influencer captioned the Instagram video. He is secure and in good health.
Her spouse is spotted waiting inside the car while enjoying some popcorn.
Thankfully, viewers in the comments section found humor in Bonnie’s video.
One person wrote, “My heart dropped and then I LMAO.”
Another said, “Leaving them in the car is so much easier.”
“For a split second, I thought I was going to lose it… That surprised me, too,” a third person said.
Many of Engels’ posts, according to reports, are lighthearted and ideal for mothers who can identify with the day-to-day challenges of motherhood.
What was your impression of Bonnie’s video? Use the comment section to share your opinions with us.
This video undoubtedly had a humorous component, but it’s crucial to constantly keep in mind that you should never leave kids—or dogs, for that matter—in heated cars.
Please share this post to assist us in spreading a crucial message and if you thought Bonnie’s short was humorous.
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