"A sister, a daughter, a wife, died in her wedding dress because someone made a terrible decision," a tearful Mani Jenkins, sister of the bride said.
Shortly after leaving their South Carolina wedding reception, a newlywed bride was killed and the groom seriously hurt when an alleged drunk driver crashed into the back of the golf cart they were riding in on April 28, according to the Associated Press.
Bride Samantha Miller, 34, was tragically killed in the accident, while the groom Aric Hutchinson is in terrible condition and "has had one of two reconstruction surgeries, numerous broken bones, and a brain injury," according to a GoFundMe page set up by Aric's mother, Annette Hutchinson. By Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe had collected more than $570,000.
I saw a post about this last night. Totally broke my heart. They were glowing with joy. There really aren’t words for something like this…The groom’s mother made a GFM for anyone looking to support him. Will put link in comment reply. pic.twitter.com/bnmTA1s6vV
— Lauren Lee Malloy (@LaurenLee_915) May 2, 2023
The suspected drunk driver has now been charged with three charges of felony DUI causing grievous bodily harm and one case of reckless homicide, per PEOPLE. As per an investigation, the driver was going 65 mph at the time of the accident, police said, per WYFF.
Data from the inebriated driver's rental car revealed that the vehicle was being driven more than twice the speed limit and only "briefly hit the brakes just before hitting the golf cart around 10 p.m. Friday," in Folly Beach, South Carolina. When PEOPLE asked for more information, the Folly Beach Public Safety Department did not immediately answer.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the victims of this weekend's DUI accident on Folly Beach. The money raised will help pay for the bride's burial and medical costs for the groom and his family https://t.co/cOlnhPP9IU
— Holy City Sinner (@HolyCitySinner) May 1, 2023
There were two additional passengers in the golf cart who also sustained injuries, per GoFundMe, and one of them was critically injured. "My son-in-law Benjamin Garrett and grandson Brogan Garrett from Morgan, Utah were escorting the couple from the reception in a golf cart when they were struck from behind by a drunk driver traveling 65 MPH in a 25 MPH zone," Annette wrote. "The golf cart was thrown over 100 yards and rolled several times."
Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O'Neal revealed that Miller, the newlywed, unfortunately, died at the scene from blunt force trauma she experienced in the collision.
"A sister, a daughter, a wife, died in her wedding dress because someone made a terrible decision," a tearful Mani Jenkins, sister of the bride, told NBC News. "From the moment she woke up that day until she left the venue, she told Eric on the golf cart that she wanted this day to last forever. He told us that at the hospital when we saw him," Jenkins said.
"I was handed Aric's wedding ring in a plastic bag at the hospital, five hours after Sam placed it on his finger and they read each other their vows," Annette wrote on the GoFundMe page. "Aric has lost the love of his life."
I am SICK over this.
— Kaitlin Newman (@KaitlinObscura) May 3, 2023
“I was handed Aric’s wedding ring in a plastic bag at the hospital, five hours after Sam placed it on his finger and they read each other their vows. Aric has lost the love of his life,” said Annette Hutchinsonhttps://t.co/TcvvAOXWDp pic.twitter.com/EZy5XNTk10
References:
https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1653379725157363715
https://www.wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-bride-killed-golf-cart-crash/43754159#
https://www.gofundme.com/f/sam-and-aric
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
