Taylor Swift Donates $50,000 to Heroic Rhode Island Mom Injured in Crash

Taylor Swift has contributed $50,000 to help Ashley Taunton, a mother who sustained a collapsed lung and severe internal injuries after stopping to help teenagers involved in a highway crash during a torrential rainstorm, NBC News has confirmed.

The incident occurred on July 18, when Taunton was driving on I-95 South in Hopkinton, according to details provided by her husband, Joe Taunton, to NBC affiliate WJAR of Providence, and reported by USA TODAY. Taunton, a 42-year-old certified nursing assistant from Connecticut, noticed a car hydroplane off the road and pulled over to assist the teenagers inside the vehicle. As she aided them on the roadside, another vehicle hydroplaned and struck the group.

“In a split-second act of pure bravery, Ashley pushed the other person out of harm’s way, taking the brunt of the impact herself,” according to an online fundraiser organized to support her medical bills. Joe Taunton told WJAR that his wife suffered a severe leg injury along with extensive internal damage, including lacerations to her liver, trauma to her small and large intestines, and a ruptured diaphragm that caused one of her lungs to collapse. She has undergone multiple surgeries since the accident.

## GoFundMe Campaign and Swift’s Contribution

According to donations recorded on the GoFundMe page, Swift contributed $50,000 to the family on August 28. Along with the funds, Swift left a comment stating, Wishing you the best recovery possible and sending love to your family! as reported by USA TODAY.

The fundraiser, established by organizer Laura Ortelt to cover medical expenses not covered by insurance, daily household bills, and transportation costs for hospital commutes, surpassed $74,000 following the contribution. Ortelt told USA TODAY that the financial support provides vital relief for the family, noting that Joe Taunton, the household’s primary earner, exhausted his work leave while caring for his wife.

Ortelt also noted that supporters have embraced a numeric theme inspired by the pop star. And of course, immediately following, the $13 donations started coming in from Swifties all over, Ortelt wrote in updates shared with USA TODAY. Taylor, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unimaginable kindness.

## Recovery and Family Impact

Ashley Taunton has documented aspects of her recovery on social media, sharing updates from her hospital stay and subsequent return home in a leg brace. In an interview with People published on August 23, she recalled the impact of the collision. It just felt like a big explosion, she told the publication, adding that she remained conscious on the ground while her daughter stayed by her side until emergency responders arrived.

Learning of the contribution brought a moment of relief to Taunton amid her rehabilitation. Speaking to USA TODAY on August 29, she expressed profound gratitude. This is absolutely mind-blowing and so very humbling, she wrote on Instagram, adding in her interview that she has long admired Swift’s music and often views the singer’s property from nearby Misquamicut State Beach. I wish I could hug Taylor in real life just to tell her how grateful I am.