Petara Cordero, the girlfriend of Browns defensive end Chris Smith, died in a car accident Wednesday after she was struck by another vehicle. She was 26, according to Fox 8 Cleveland.

Smith and Cordero were on the side of I-90 in Cleveland after they had a tire malfunction around 2 a.m. Wednesday, which caused their car to spin and hit the median. Cordero exited the vehicle without serious injuries, but was hit by an oncoming car.

Paramedics and police arrived on the scene and took Cordero to the hospital, where she later was pronounced dead.

Cordero and Smith, 27, just welcomed the a daughter, Haven Harris Smith, last month. Smith was granted a leave of absence before the Browns-Colts preseason game on Aug. 17 to attend her birth.

“Words cannot describe the sorrow we feel for Chris following the loss of his girlfriend, Petara.”



Browns mourn loss of Petara Cordero, girlfriend of Browns DE Chris Smith: https://t.co/LN7r4SuvgM pic.twitter.com/AxGIG3ZIbb — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 11, 2019

“Words cannot describe the sorrow we feel for Chris following the loss of his girlfriend, Petara,” Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “Our entire organization mourns with Chris, his family and the Cordero family. We will do everything possible to offer them our support, comfort and any resources in this most difficult time.”

According to police, Smith was not impaired at the time of the accident. The driver of the other car was also taken to the hospital, but was released. She told police she had been drinking.

The Browns said they will have grief counselors on site and have excused Smith from the team for as long as needed.