11 March 2024 , 14:32
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A woman accused of killing a newlywed bride on her wedding day in a drunk driving crash has admitted she is an "alcoholic [and] addict".
Jamie Lee Komoroski, 26, bared her struggles with addiction in a chilling series of recorded jail phone conversations before she was released on house arrest on March 1, after posting a $150,000 bond.
The tragic crash occurred on April 28, 2023, when Komoroski allegedly ploughed a rented car into a golf cart carrying newlyweds Samantha Miller, 34, and Aric Hutchinson, 36, along with two wedding guests, in Folly Beach, South Carolina. Samantha tragically lost her life in her wedding dress, while Aric sustained serious injuries, including a brain injury.
Komoroski's blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was reportedly three times the legal limit. Prosecutors allege she was driving at a staggering 65 mph in a 25 mph zone and nearly unconscious due to intoxication at the time of the collision.
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Miller lost her life in her wedding dress and Hutchinson sustained injuries, including a brain injury (Samantha Miller/Facebook)In the recorded jail calls, obtained by the New York Post, Komoroski acknowledged her battle with alcoholism and addiction, admitting her inability to control her consumption. In one of the calls on December 11 she confessed to her sister: "I consider myself an alcoholic addict because anything that makes me feel different or takes me away from what I’m supposed to be feeling, I used to try to do."
She added: "I just didn’t think life had any meaning. I was extremely lonely and didn’t get life. I could never just sit down with my thoughts."
Jamie Lee Komoroski confessed her struggles with addiction in phone conversations (Folly Beach Police)
The couple had just tied the knot before the deadly crash (Michael D Peifer/Facebook)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Throughout the calls, Komoroski frequently referenced her faith and participation in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, finding solace in the belief in a higher power's ability to bring good from tragedy.
She said: "[In AA] we talk about how our higher power can’t stop something bad from happening because we’re given free will and free choice and with that comes consequences but he can make good things come of bad situations.
Newlyweds Samantha Miller and Aric Hutchinson left their wedding in a golf cart before the tragic crash (GoFundMe/Folly Beach Police/MEGA)"If he was to prevent anything bad from happening then we wouldn’t be people and life would have no meaning, you know what I mean? I don’t know, I just never thought I’d be able to understand…like why do people get cancer?"
If convicted, Komoroski faces up to 25 years in prison. Despite facing four felony charges, including reckless homicide, she appeared hopeful and eager for life in the phone conversations.
Prosecutors allege Komoroski was driving at a staggering 65 mph in a 25 mph zone (Folly beach PD)On December 6, she was recorded telling her brother: "I want to go to [a] Harry Potter [exhibit]. We need to do that. You get wands…and pretend that we are wizards."
And again on December 10, she said: "I can’t wait until I can watch The History Channel with you again. [We can make] popcorn. I’ll have ice cream…[and] cake."