The accused drunk driver charged in the horrifying collision that left a new bride dead in South Carolina smelled of booze and refused to take a field sobriety test after the crash, according to police documents.
Jamie Komoroski, 25, also told officers that she downed a shot of tequila and one beer about an hour before the wreck on Friday night that killed 34-year-old Samantha Hutchinson, WCBD reported, citing the affidavits.
Komoroski was behind the wheel of a gray Toyota rental car when she allegedly plowed into a golf cart carrying Hutchinson, her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, and two relatives shortly after the couple’s wedding reception in Folly Beach.
She was traveling 65 miles per hour and only braked right before she struck the cart, police said.
Samantha, 34, of North Carolina, died after the crash. Aric and a relative suffered serious injuries, while the second injured relative was listed in stable condition, according to ABC News.
The alleged drunk driver was charged with reckless vehicular homicide and three counts of driving under the influence causing death.
When police arrived, they noticed Komoroski smelled of alcohol and she estimated to officers that her rate of impairment was an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, according to the police documents obtained by WCBD.
She also allegedly told police she had drunk a beer and one tequila drink about an hour before the crash, the affidavits state.
Police said the driver was also unsteady on her feet and “strongly refused and became uncooperative” when asked to take a field sobriety test, according to documents.
A warrant was issued for a blood test.
Its results are pending.
Officers saw the golf cart on its side and several victims in need of help, according to the affidavits.
Samantha died at the scene.
Folly Beach Department of Public Safety chief Andrew Gilreath said he could not confirm the cart rolled but said it was found about 75 yards from the collision, ABC News reported.
Everything you need to know about <strong>Jamie Lee Komoroski</strong>
What will happen to her?
Komoroski was charged with three felony DUIs resulting in great bodily injury or death and one count of reckless homicide after killing a bride and injuring a groom who had just left their wedding reception. She is facing up to 25 years in jail.
Komoroski, 25, plowed into Samantha Hutchinson’s golf cart, which had four people on it, while driving around 65 miles per hour, according to Folly Beach police.
Sam Hutchinson was declared dead at the scene by responding officers. Her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, was hospitalized with severe injuries.
Police said Komoroski’s blood-alcohol content was three times over the legal limit.
Komoroski reportedly smelled of alcohol but refused to take a sobriety test, according to police.
Aric filed a wrongful death suit against the alleged drunk driver and the bars that he says served her before the horrific incident.
Komoroski has been let out of jail and is under house arrest after being granted bail with strict conditions on Friday, as revealed by The Post.
A judge said she should be granted bail if Charleston County couldn’t bring the case to trial before March 1.
Gilreath said the golf cart was allowed to operate and had lights.
“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 Hutchinson wrote on the GoFundMe. “Aric has lost the love of his life.”
With Post wires
