NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country artist Conner Smith was involved in a tragic accident over the weekend in which a pedestrian was fatally struck by his truck in Nashville, authorities confirmed. No charges have been filed as the investigation remains ongoing.
According to Metro Nashville Police, Smith, 24, was driving Sunday evening when he struck 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins as she crossed the street in a marked crosswalk. Dobbins, a retired attorney and respected member of Nashville’s legal community, later died from her injuries at a hospital.
The Tennessee Bar Association noted that Dobbins had been out walking her dog at the time of the incident. She was widely known for her decades of service in family law and advocacy work, including helping to open Nashville’s first domestic violence shelter and drafting Tennessee’s original order of protection law.
Authorities stated that Smith showed no signs of impairment, but said the preliminary contributing factor appeared to be failure to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
Smith’s attorney, Worrick Robinson, confirmed that the singer is fully cooperating with the investigation. “His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins’ family during this incredibly difficult time,” Robinson said in a statement.
Conner Smith, a Nashville native, has been rising in the country music scene. He was recently nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards and released his debut album Smoky Mountains earlier this year. He also performed at the CMA Fest in Nashville just days before the incident.
Smith has earned gold-certified hits such as Take It Slow and Creek Will Rise, according to his label, Big Machine Records.
