A bride was killed just moments after her wedding ceremony when an alleged drunk driver crashed into the newlyweds' golf cart on a South Carolina beach road, authorities said on Monday.
Samantha Miller, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died in the wreck, according to the Charleston County coroner's office. Miller had just married hours earlier, said Folly Beach public safety department director Andrew Gilreath. Three others in the golf cart were injured, including the groom, who remains hospitalised in critical condition.
The groom's mother created a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs and medical bills. It included a photo of the newlyweds running under sparklers just before the crash, which caused the golf cart to roll over several times. Another photo showed groom Aric Hutchinson in hospital, recovering from a brain injury and numerous broken bones.
Data from suspect Jamie Lee Komoroski's rental car indicated she was driving at 65 mph (105 km/h) and only briefly braked before striking the golf cart around 10pm on Friday on Folly Beach. The speed limit on the island near Charleston is 25 mph (40 km/h). Gilreath said the golf cart had lights and was legal to drive at night.
Komoroski, 25, was charged with reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death. She faces up to 25 years in prison on each DUI count. She remained in Charleston County jail on Monday afternoon; records did not indicate if she had a lawyer.
