A groom whose wife died just mere hours after the pair tied the knot has spoken out about his final moments with his new wife.
Aric Hutchinson, 36, and Samantha Miller, 34, from South Carolina, were involved in a tragic car accident on the night of April 28 when an alleged drunk driver hit their vehicle just hours after the pair celebrated their wedding.
It was reported that as the newlyweds were leaving their reception in Folly Beach, they boarded a golf cart that was going to take them home from the venue but they were struck by a drunk driver, the impact killing Samantha immediately while critically injuring Aric as well as two other people.
The husband was immediately rushed to hospital to be treated for his severe injuries.
In the days following, a GoFundMe was set up by Aric's mom, Annette, who took to the description to reveal further horrific details of the crash which claimed the life of her new daughter-in-law.
"Aric lost the love of his life when my new daughter-in-law Samantha 'Sam' Hutchinson was tragically killed by a drunk driver moments after the picture above while leaving her wedding reception on April 28th in Folly Beach, South Carolina. My son is now in critical condition," Annette wrote.
She went on to add that her son-in-law Benjamin Garrett and her grandson Brogan Garrett were also involved in the accident.
In an affidavit obtained by the New York Post, police reported that Komoroski was driving at 65 mph (104 km/h), causing the golf cart to roll several times.
Now, the heartbroken husband has spoken out about the ordeal in his first interview since losing the love of his life.
Speaking to Good Morning America, he said: "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. That night, going from an all-time high to an all-time low, it's pretty rough to try to comprehend."
"She was so happy," he continued, telling the outlet that the pair were feeling fulfilled being surrounded by their family and friends on their big day. "I mean, planning a wedding, as most people know, is extremely stressful. And she just had a weird, like, calmness that night."
Aric also revealed that while he doesn't remember the crash in its entirity, he does remember the last thing Samantha said to him.
"I do remember the last thing I remember her saying was she wanted the night to never end," he said, before adding that the next thing he remembered was waking up in the hospital room and asking "Where's Sam?"
"That's when [my mom] told me there's an incident and that Sam didn't make it," he told GMA.
The driver that struck the vehicle has been identified as 25-year-old Jamie Komoroski who has now been arrested and charged with three counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury/death and one count of reckless homicide as per CNN.
According to a police report released by the Folly Beach Department of Public Safety, Komoroski was allegedly driving 65 mph in a 25 mph zone when the crash took place.
An attorney for Komoroski shared a statement after her arrest, saying: "We cannot fathom what the families are going through and offer our deepest sympathies. We simply ask that there not be a rush to judgment. Our court system is founded upon principles of justice and mercy and that is where all facts will come to light."
As per the Daily Mail, Aric has since filed a case in Charleston where he is suing the alleged drunk driver after he accused her of "bar hopping" prior to the fatal incident.
The 36-year-old is also taking legal action against five bars that Komoroski allegedly visited as he claims that they served her alcohol despite her being visibly intoxicated. The lawsuit states that the 25-year-old visited El Gallo Bar and Grill near Daniel Island before traveling to Folly Beach where she bar-hopped to places allegedly including Drop In, The Crab Shack, and Snapper Jack.
As per GMA, the grieving husband said that he's not ready to address the reckless driver at this time stating: "I can't right now. I'd like to. I mean, she stole an amazing human being that should not have been taken."
For now, he said he's focused on his recovery and trying to hold on to his happy memories with Sam. He moved back into the third-floor apartment the two shared, and he said he can still feel her presence.
"It's hard, but it's also nice. It's got Sam written all over the house," he said. "I know she's up there watching, just laughing at me trying to get up and down these stairs because it was her decision to go to the third floor."
