‘Drunk driver’ freed from jail after allegedly killing bride in wedding day crash

There’s been an unexpected update on the “drunk driver” who allegedly killed a bride on her wedding day – almost a year after she was locked up.

Twist in wedding day horror that killed bride. Picture: Supplied

Jamie Komoroski, the American woman accused of being under the influence and ploughing her car into a golf cart that was carrying a newlywed couple from their wedding reception, has been granted bail.

Komoroski faces four criminal charges in relation to the crash, which left the bride Samantha Miller, 34, dead and her new husband, Aric Hutchinson, 36, hospitalised with serious injuries.

The 26-year-old was released Friday after posting a $US150,000 (about $230,000) bond and has been placed under house arrest, the New York Post reports.

She also has to wear a SCRAM ankle monitor while residing at the property in South Carolina, a southeastern US state, according to jail records and sources close to her case.

The device is worn by “DUI and high-risk alcohol clients” as an ankle bracelet and tests the person’s sweat for alcohol 24/7, according to the manufacturer’s site.

Samantha Miller, 34, died on her wedding day after the golf cart she was in was hit by an alleged drunk driver. Picture: Supplied

Jamie Komoroski is claimed to have been three-times the legal blood-alcohol limit at the time of the collision. Picture: Supplied

Komoroski must remain in her home and will only be permitted to leave her approved residence for medical emergencies or court orders, according to court records. She must also surrender her passport, and is not allowed to drive.

A judge previously denied bail to Komoroski but ruled she would be allowed out on bond if her trial was not scheduled to start before March.

Charleston County court confirmed a trial date has not yet been scheduled, but court officials could not explain why.

Komoroski has been held at a detention centre since she allegedly slammed her Toyota into the golf cart carrying the newlyweds as they left their beachside wedding reception at Folly Beach on April 28 last year.

She faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted.

Miller died in her wedding dress while her husband Aric Hutchinson was seriously injured. Picture: Supplied

Miller’s grieving mother, Lisa Miller, said she has campaigned for Komoroski to be on “the most restrictions possible” while on bail.

“I want that to include house arrest, ankle monitoring and not being able to leave the state,” she told the New York Post, adding that the past year has been “very challenging”.

“We were all expecting she would have been bonded out first time [last summer] but luckily the judge kept her in, I think that was to do with our impact statements.”

Prosecutors have claimed Komoroski was three times over the legal blood-alcohol limit and speeding, travelling 65 mph (about 106 km/h) in a 25 mph (40 km/h) zone, when she slammed her vehicle into the wedding party as they left the reception.

Miller died at the scene in her wedding dress, her new husband sustained a brain injury and two other passengers were also hurt.

Miller’s (centre) tragic death has devastated her family, her mother Lisa Miller (right) said. Picture: Supplied

Komoroski has unexpectedly been granted bail almost a year after being locked up. She’s facing four criminal charges in the case. Picture: Supplied

Komoroski was allegedly so intoxicated after the fatal crash she appeared confused, telling responding officers, “All the sudden something hit me,” and repeatedly saying, “I did nothing wrong,” according to the incident report.

Komoroski’s lawyer Chris Gramiccioni said “Jamie is not a flight risk or danger to the community”.

“She now looks forward to demonstrating her continued commitment to rehabilitation upon her pre-trial release from detention,” he added.

Komoroski’s defence lawyers previously sought her release on a surety bond, with the condition she would enter a substance abuse rehab program, at her first bond hearing on August 1.

Her defence also cited Komoroski’s lack of prior criminal history and strong family support.

In her impact statement at the hearing, Miller had tearfully told the court Komoroski “didn’t just kill my child”.

“She killed all of us,” she said.

Judge Michael Nettles had ordered Komoroski to remain behind bars until the start of the trial but put in the caveat she could be released on bond if the case was not heard by March.

“We appreciate the court’s decision to release Jamie on bond in March 2024 if the State is not ready for trial, but we nonetheless believe she has met the legal criteria for release today,” Komoroski’s legal team said in a statement at the time.

In May, Komoroski expressed optimism she might be out of jail soon, telling her boyfriend in a recorded jailhouse call “the head person of Charleston County” wanted her to be home with her family.

“She’s really nice, and I think she’s gonna help me … things are looking up,” she said on the call.

This article originally appeared on The New York Post and has been reproduced here with permission