Friends, family process grief months after bride killed on wedding night

BELMONT, N.C. — A friend of a Charlotte native, who was killed in a crash on her wedding night, is speaking out.

Police said a DUI driver hit and killed Samantha Miller in April at Folly Beach.

Miller’s groom survived with serious injuries.

Channel 9′s Erika Jackson sat down with Miller’s maid of honor at a Belmont spot where the friends made many memories.

Ashely Favret said she remembers the music and dancing at her best friend’s wedding on April 28.

“Just pure joy from her. She was so happy,” Favret said. “It was definitely the best day of her life.”

Tears of laughter turned to tears of sadness after the reception.

Folly Beach police said Miller, her new husband Aric Hutchinson, and two family members were in a low-speed vehicle when they were rear-ended.

Miller died at the crash site, police said.

“Her brother-in-law came in the room and said there was an accident,” Favret said. “I remember hearing the sirens and I texted both Sam and Aric to see if they were OK and nobody answered me.”

The driver of the car, Jamie Lee Komoroski, was intoxicated driving 65 mph where the speed limit was 25 mph, police said.

She was charged with three counts of felony DUI and one count of reckless homicide.

A judge denied bond for Komoroski last week, which means she will stay in jail until her trial in April.

Channel 9 obtained recordings of Komoroski’s phone calls from jail.

“Oh my God. Oh my God. I’m going to be here for years, and years, and years, and years,” she could be seen saying on the video.

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In one clip, she appears to be upset about being in jail. In another, she read to her parents a letter she wrote herself.

“Nothing she says sits well because it’s all about her and how she feels and feels bad for ‘me’ in the situation,” Favret said. “It’s her actions that caused all of this.”

Favret has a message to prevent others from feeling her pain.

“The major thing is don’t drink and drive. A simple Uber could’ve saved her life,” she said.

Favret said she remains close with Hutchinson and that he is slowly healing mentally and physically.

Favret said Miller’s closest friends and family are talking with mental health professionals as they try to process her sudden death.

VIDEO: Suspect’s jail calls released after SC crash that killed bride

‘Going to be here for years’: Suspect’s jail calls released after SC crash that killed bride

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