Rochester’s Larry Smith will serve eight years in prison for his role in a car-pedestrian accident that killed a pedestrian.

Smith was charged with causing death when operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body, a Level 4 felony.  He was the driver of a vehicle that struck Carol Hoffer, 84, in Etna Green on November 3, 2020.  Hoffer later died of her injuries.

Smith was ordered to serve 12 years in prison but four of those were suspended.

Original story - November 3, 2020

A Kosciusko County woman was struck by a car and died Tuesday.

Carol Hoffer, 84, of Etna Green died as a result of injuries she sustained after being struck by a vehicle in Etna Green Tuesday evening.

According to investigating deputies, Hoffer was walking on Broadway St. when she was struck by a 1999 Ford F150 driven by Larry Smith, 57, of Leesburg. Immediately prior to the collision, Smith turned west onto Broadway St. from Walnut St.

Hoffer was transported by the Samaritan Air Ambulance to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Smith was not injured in the collision.

This crash remains under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Fatal Team.