MANDI Jenkins is the sister of the late Samantha Miller, who was killed in a tragic car crash on her wedding day.
Samantha is survived by her husband Aric and her family, who made an appearance at the trial of Jaime Lee Komoroski who had been responsible for the crash.
Aric and Samantha tied the knot in April 2023, hours before Samantha’s death9th Judicial Circuit, South Carolina
Jaime Lee Komoroski crashed into the couple and killed SamanthaAP: Associated Press
Mandi and her mother appeared in court to talk about SamanthaAP: Associated Press
“Happiest day of her life”
Samantha married her husband Aric Hutchinson on April 28, 2023, in a ceremony that her mom Lisa described as “perfect”.
Mandi had traveled up from Lake Worth Beach with her two daughters, who were flower girls during the ceremony.
She described her sister’s wedding as the “happiest day” of Samantha’s life and added that it was also the “happiest day” of her own life.
However, tragedy struck when Samantha and Aric were killed by Jaime Lee Komoroski when she crashed into their vehicle.
Komoroski had been driving at 65mph in a 25mph and had drunk more than enough alcohol to put her over the legal limit.
When the wedding guests started hearing sirens, Lisa began to panic.
Mandi said: “And mom looked at us and said, ‘Something happened to Sam.’
“She knew it, and she felt it in her gut.”
Sadly, Samantha passed away at the scene of the crash and her husband was rushed to hospital.
Courtroom anger
Komoroski was sentenced to 25 years in prison, for driving over the legal limit and causing Samantha’s death.
In court, she said: “On the night of April 22, 2023, I chose to drink and drive, which resulted in the death of Samantha Miller.
“This is the worst decision I have ever made in my life.”
Mandi described Komoroski’s crime as “selfish, senseless and preventable” and shared that the sound of sirens now traumatizes her.
Samantha’s dad also spoke directly to Komoroski in the courtroom and said: “For the rest of my life I’m always going to hate you, and when you arrive in Hell, I’m going to open the gate for you.”
Aric shared in court that he still feels the same as he did when Samantha diedAP: Associated Press
Life after the crash
In court, Mandi’s brother-in-law Aric said: “I’ve seen more doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists than I can count, and I still feel the same as I did when I found out that day.
“I wish I had died that night. I wish I had seen it coming. I’d have jumped off the golf cart so that you’d only have run me over.
“We did not get hit, we got ran through at 65mph.”
He added that his last memory of his wife was her telling him about how much she didn’t want their wedding night to end.
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