Husband Honors Wife Killed in Wedding Night Crash: ‘She’s Smiling Up There

A South Carolina man is grieving the death of his wife after they were involved in a golf cart crash on their wedding night. The accident happened on April 28 on Folly Beach when a car crashed into their golf cart.

Samantha Miller, who was still in her wedding dress, passed away in the accident while her husband Aric Hutchinson and two others were injured. Recently, more than 100 people, including Hutchinson, gathered on the beach where they got married to remember Miller.

Briefly revisit the News story of Samantha Miller’s tragic death here:

On Friday, a tragic incident occurred in Folly Beach, South Carolina, where Samantha Miller, a 34-year-old woman, passed away while she was still dressed in her wedding gown.

This was the first time Hutchinson returned to the beach since the crash.

“She would’ve loved it,” Hutchinson said. “This is Sam. I mean, she’s a beach girl, through and through. We do walk here almost every morning, and this is her send off for sure. She’s up there smiling, for sure.”

Friends, family and members of the Folly Beach community paddled out into the water to honor Miller’s life by throwing flowers into the ocean with “Sam” written on the stems.

Hutchinson sat on the shoreline in a wheelchair after sustaining a brain injury and multiple broken bones after the golf cart was thrown 100 yards.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said. “My body’s getting back to where I can manage, I guess. It’s just as good as I can feel with the situation, but obviously, today and the outpouring of people was just amazing. I know Sam would love it.”

Thousands of people from all over the country have donated to the GoFundMe page to help pay for Miller’s burial and medical costs for Hutchinson and his family. As of early Sunday, the page had raised over $719,000.

Locally, Hutchinson says the people of Folly Beach, some that had no connection to the couple, have donated food during his recovery, as well as showing love and prayers.

“It’s a little overwhelming; but it’s, I mean, they’re sincere, genuine, good-hearted people that are just reaching out that felt a reason to, or somehow they were touched by Sam,” he said. “It just means the world. She left that impact.”

Tara Novit, who surfs on Folly Beach and helped organize the event, says the community treats everyone like one big family.

“That’s one thing about this community is that we all come together when tragedy hits,” Novit said. “It really is a tragedy for Folly Beach, and we’re all grieving with the family.”