NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country artist Connor Smith was involved in a tragic incident, fatally striking a pedestrian while driving a truck in Nashville over the weekend.
Metronashville police reported that Smith, 24, collided with 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins while she was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk on Sunday evening. Dobbins, a retired attorney, later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The Tennessee Bar Association noted on its website that Dobbins was walking her dog when the incident occurred.
Authorities stated that Smith exhibited no signs of impairment and that “preliminary contributing factors” seemed to suggest that he did not yield the right of way to pedestrians.
Smith’s attorney, Warwick Robinson, indicated that his client is cooperating with the investigation.
“His thoughts are with Dobbins’ family during these incredibly challenging times,” Robinson said in a statement.
Dobbins was a prominent figure in the legal aid and family law community in the city, practicing for over 40 years, according to posts from the Bar Association and the Legal Aid Association of Middle Tennessee and Cumberlands. A Facebook post from the Legal Aid Association highlighted her instrumental role in establishing Nashville’s first domestic violence shelter and her authorship of the state’s initial protection laws.
Smith was nominated for the 2024 New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. He released his debut full-length album, “Smoky Mountains,” in 2024.
Per his label, Big Machine, the Nashville native has achieved gold-certified hits with “Take It Slow” and “Creek Will Rise.” He was performing in Nashville during the CMA Fest over the weekend.
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Associated Press Writer Travis Loller contributed to this report.
Source: apnews.com