'American Idol' Contestant Haley Smith Killed In A Motorcycle Crash

Haley Smith, who was a contestant on season 11 of American Idol, has passed away at the age of 26. Smith died after being involved in a one-vehicle motorcycle accident on August 31 in Millinocket, Maine.

Her father, Mike Smith, told TMZ that he believes a deer may have caused the accident as she was a good motorcyclist, it was also mentioned that her family was preparing to celebrate her birthday in two months. The news outlet also reported that police said she “failed to make a sharp turn along a residential road that becomes a highway in certain sections.” Smith was pronounced dead on the scene.

Smith auditioned for American Idol in Colorado in 2012 when she was 18 years old where she sang Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good." She made it to Hollywood before being cut after the second round of eliminations. During her initial audition, Steven Tyler was blown away with her singing saying, "I love your voice. So much. You’re right out of my era. I’m honored to be here listening to your voice,” she said. While Jennifer Lopez compared her to Joni Mitchell.

In her American Idol interview, Smith gushed about her hometown and its beauty. “I live in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere and I love nature,” she said. “I definitely love being outdoors, it’s where I feel most at peace.”

Rest in peace, Haley Smith.

Photo: YouTube