Country singer Conner Smith was involved in a deadly car accident in Nashville over the weekend after reportedly hitting and killing a woman in a crosswalk.
According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Smith, 24, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado on Sunday, June 8, when he struck 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins as she walked in a marked crosswalk.
Dobbins, who lived nearby, was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.
“The preliminary contributing factor for this crash appears to be Smith failing to yield the right of way to the pedestrian,” the release said per PEOPLE. “He showed no signs of impairment.”
The investigation into the accident is still ongoing, and police say no charges have been filed against Smith at this time. According to a statement from his attorney, Conner Smith, known for his song “Creek Will Rise,” was involved in the crash that resulted in a fatality.
“His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins’ family during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement said. “Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.”
A source per PEOPLE noted that the crash was accidental and that Smith was not impaired or using his phone at the time. The incident occurred on the last day of CMA Fest, Nashville’s four-day country music celebration.
Conner Vickery Smith (born September 6, 2000, in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country singer-songwriter whose storytelling-driven sound has quickly earned him attention. Raised in music—his mother worked in the Nashville industry—Smith began writing songs by age six and scored a BMI publishing deal at 16.
He broke through in late 2021 when his viral track “I Hate Alabama”—a reflective twist on a heartbreak narrative—caught fire on TikTok, eventually leading to a recording contract with Big Machine’s Valory label Since then, he’s released the EP Didn’t Go Too Far (2022) and his full-length debut album, Smoky Mountains, in January 2024, co-writing 11 of its 12 songs. The album launched with “Creek Will Rise.”
Smith has performed extensively, including opening slots for Luke Bryan, and his rising profile earned him a nomination for ACM’s New Male Artist of the Year. His recent EP, The Storyteller, showcases a deeper, more authentic side of his songwriting.
In April 2024, he married surfer Leah Thompson.
