Conner Smith, a 24-year-old country music artist, is facing criminal misdemeanor traffic citation. This is an encouraging move after a very sad accident last month in Nashville that took the life of 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins. On June 8, Smith was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. He hit Dobbins as she was walking across the street. Even though she received medical care within minutes at nearby Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dobbins later died from her injuries.
The accident was investigated extensively by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Defendants presented absolutely no evidence that Smith was impaired or distracted while driving. He is now facing a Class A misdemeanor charge of failure to yield right of way resulting in death.
Smith paused his tour dates in a wave of mourning. To honor Dobbins and give himself time to grieve, he stepped away. She was terribly wounded, and he shared beautiful regret on Instagram, saying that his heart is “broken in a way I’ve never felt broken before.”
“Not a day has gone by that I haven’t grieved, prayed, and mourned for Ms. Dobbins and her family,” – Conner Smith
Dobbins was a distinguished lawyer and civil rights fighter. For more than 40 years, Richard was a tireless advocate for family law, domestic violence prevention, and anti-violence efforts. She was a treasured maternal grandmother, “Ma,” instilling her legacy into the fabric of her community.
Smith’s lawyer, Worrick G. Robinson lauded the MNPD for performing a rigorous investigation. He further acknowledged Smith’s commitment to honoring Dobbins’ memory. To this day, Smith is “incredibly grateful” for their efforts and has “always been on board” and cooperative during the process, he told us.
“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,” – Worrick G. Robinson
Smith’s music has been shaped by these experiences while deeply rooted in country, including his most popular single “Country in the Clouds.” The artist reflected on the importance of music as a healing space. He recognized that holed up in the midst of such an emotional time, he had to step away.
“I have always found that making music and playing shows is a place of healing for me — but for this moment, it was important for me to take that time away,” – Conner Smith
Our community continues to mourn this avoidable tragedy. Smith is asking the public to continue praying for the Dobbins family and to live in peace as they go through this time of mourning.
“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,” – Conner Smith
