Country musician Conner Smith shared a statement on social media one month after he fatally struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk in Nashville.
Smith, 24, was involved in a car accident on Sunday, June 8, which left a woman dead. After an investigation by the traffic division, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department announced July 10 that Smith was charged with failure to yield the right of way resulting in death, a Class A misdemeanor.
The singer was driving his truck when he hit Dorothy Dobbins, 77, while she was walking in the crosswalk around 7:30 p.m. local time. After the accident, Dobbins was taken to a hospital, where she died.
The “Creek Will Rise” singer shared a statement about the accident on Instagram July 11.
“Four weeks ago, I was involved in a tragic vehicle accident that resulted in the loss of a life,” his statement read. “Not a day has gone by that I haven’t grieved, prayed, and mourned for Ms. Dobbins and her family. My heart is broken in a way I’ve never experienced, and I still struggle to fully process the weight of it all.”
In the statement, Smith shared his support for the victim’s family, adding, “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.”
“Out of respect for everyone involved and to give space for grieving, I made the decision to step away from shows these past few weeks,” he continued. “I have always found that making music and playing shows is a place of healing for me — but for this moment, it was important to take time away.”
Smith was set to headline the June 20 Military Appreciation Concert in Akron, Ohio, per WKYC, an NBC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. He was also set to perform at the Buckeye Country Superfest on June 21, but a few days before its start, the festival announced on social media, “Conner Smith will unfortunately not be performing this weekend.”
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department reported in a June 9 media release that Smith was driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck traveling northbound on 3rd Avenue North when he hit Dobbins inside a marked crosswalk. Dobbins lived near the site of the accident and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she died.
Smith was issued a state misdemeanor citation on July 10, per Nashville police.
Citing witnesses, after the accident, Smith “ran to (Dobbins) to render aid” until paramedics arrived, police said in the July 10 release, adding officers “found no evidence of impairment or distracted driving” on Smith’s part.
Smith is set to appear for booking on the citation Aug. 7, police said.
Smith’s attorney Worrick G. Robinson said in a statement to Us Weekly, “Conner is incredibly grateful to the MNPD for their time and efforts to carefully investigate this tragic accident and has continued to cooperate at all times.”
“His thoughts remain with Ms. Dobbins’ family, and he remains committed to honoring her memory with compassion by supporting efforts to improve pedestrian safety and help prevent future tragedies,” Robinson said.
