On June 8, country music star Conner Smith was driving through his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, for a scheduled performance at CMA Fest when tragedy struck. While behind the wheel of his pickup truck, Smith hit 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins as she was crossing the street in a crosswalk.
Smith reportedly stayed at the scene and did his best to assist Dobbins until paramedics arrived. She was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but sadly, she later passed away.
Now, a month after the heartbreaking incident, Smith has broken his silence with a heartfelt message shared on Instagram Friday, July 11.
“Four weeks ago, I was involved in a tragic vehicle accident that resulted in the loss of a life. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t grieved, prayed, and mourned for Ms. Dobbins and her family,” his statement began.
“My heart is broken in a way I’ve never experienced, and I still struggle to fully process the weight of it all,” Conner Smith continued in his emotional Instagram post. “I ask that you continue to lift the Dobbins family up in prayer by name, asking for God’s peace to surround them each day.”
Police confirmed that Smith was neither under the influence nor distracted at the time of the accident. However, following the investigation, he’s been charged with a Class A misdemeanor: Failure to Yield the Right of Way Resulting in Death.
Since the tragic incident, Smith has stepped away from the stage. “I have always found that making music and playing shows is a place of healing for me—but for this moment, it was important for me to take time away,” he explained.
