Just after their wedding reception ended, Samantha and Aric Hutchinson, a young married couple, discovered themselves in the middle of a terrible happening.
The groom, Aric, is damaged and traumatized as he breaks his silence for the first time since this tragic catastrophe.
The unfortunate tragedy happened in the peaceful seaside community of Folly Beach, South Carolina. At the time of the incident, the couple was riding in a golf cart. They have been affected negatively since the crash, allegedly caused by drunk driving.
Unfortunately, Samantha perished in the crash, casting a sad shade of sorrow over their previously happy union. On the other side, Aric had terrible wounds that caused him excruciating suffering.
The tragedy also injured two additional people, raising the death toll of this horrific happening. Witnesses recall the collision’s incredible force, which propelled the golf cart over a great distance of more than 90 meters and sent it rolling many times.
Aric had suffered severe and life-altering wounds. His body bore the weight of shattered vertebrae, fractures in his face, and fractures in both legs, illuminating the great misery he underwent.
As soon as word got out, almost 100 people gathered on the beaches of Folly Beach to pay tribute to Samantha.
Taking to the water, friends and family members paddled solemnly while releasing flowers into the great ocean. The name Samantha was written on each flower as a sign of love and remembrance for the 34-year-old bride.
In the middle of his sorrow and grief, Aric said that his late wife would have greatly appreciated this get-together.
Aric introduced Sam lovingly, saying, “This is Sam. She is a beach girl through and through, after all. He continued, “We used to come here almost every morning, and this memorial is undoubtedly her ideal send-off. It brought back many happy memories of their morning strolls down the shore. I think she’s grinning as she looks down on us.” Aric spoke of his slow rehabilitation with a gleam of hope despite the enormous obstacles his injuries had presented. “My body is slowly regaining its strength and functionality,” he said. I’m feeling as good as I can under the circumstances. But today, seeing the overwhelmingly positive response from the public has been excellent. Sam, I’m sure, would have loved it.
Aric’s mother, Annette Hutchinson, started fundraising as a gesture of kindness to help pay for Aric’s medical care and Samantha’s funeral.
The other two victims of the unfortunate crash were Aric’s son-in-law and grandson. Therefore, the campaign also aimed to help them. Annette used the well-known crowdsourcing website GoFundMe to update her supporters.
She noted that her son-in-law had undergone surgery to address his “severe road rash and open wounds” and was now recovering in a specialized burn unit. Annette expressed her conviction that a guardian angel had shielded her 17-year-old grandson on that terrible night because he fortunately only suffered minor wounds.
Annette recognized the mental anguish her grandson had gone through at such a young age despite the physical scars healed. She expressed hope that he would be able to overcome this horrific catastrophe and find comfort with the help and love they had received.
Amazingly, through the fundraising, people’s compassion and generosity flooded in, resulting in donations that exceeded $1 million. This is enormous.
