Police have confirmed country music star Conner Smith, 24, has been formally charged following an incident last month where he hit and killed an elderly woman with his car. Dorothy Dobbins, 77, was walking her dog on a Sunday evening in Nashville, Tennessee, when Smith apparently failed to give way at a pedestrian crossing in his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Although Dobbins was treated in Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, she failed to pull through. Smith, who topped the UK Country Airplay chart with Creek Will Rise, stopped at the scene, and officers said he “showed no signs of impairment”.
A statement released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department today revealed Smith’s official charge is Failure to Yield the Right of Way Resulting in Death. After being issued a misdemeanour state citation, he is to appear for booking on August 7. A misdemeanour may be punishable by a lower fine or shorter prison sentence than if it were deemed a felony.
“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,” Smith’s attorney, Worrick G. Robinson IV, told TMZ.
“His thoughts remain with Ms. Dobbins’ family, and he remains committed to honouring her memory with compassion by supporting efforts to improve pedestrian safety and help prevent future tragedies.”
Smith also issued a statement on Instagram expressing his regret over the accident. “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.
“My heart is broken in a way I’ve never experienced, and I still struggle to fully process the weight of it all.
“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,” he wrote.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident , Smith withdrew from three scheduled performances: the Military Appreciation Concert in Akron, Ohio, on June 20, the Buckeye Country Superfest on June 21, and the Rock County 4-H Fair in Janesville, WI.
His representatives explained he needed to “privately process recent events”.