PROVIDENCE, RI — Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 to support a Connecticut mother of three who was seriously injured after stopping to help teenagers involved in a rain-soaked crash on Interstate 95 in Rhode Island, according to a report.
PEOPLE confirmed Friday that Swift made the contribution through a GoFundMe campaign set up for 42-year-old Ashley Taunton. The fundraiser says the money will help with household bills, travel, food and medical expenses while she recovers.
Taunton was driving with her youngest daughter in July when she saw a vehicle hydroplane and leave the roadway. She pulled over to help, and her husband said she told their daughter to call him before going to the accident scene.
How the crash unfolded on Interstate 95
Joe Taunton previously told WJAR that Ashley Taunton had stopped after seeing one car slide off Interstate 95 near Exit 4. While she was helping the people in that first wreck, another vehicle lost control in the wet conditions.
According to that account, she pushed one of the teenagers out of the way before being struck herself. The family said the teen she helped was later identified as the son of a longtime friend, a connection they learned after Taunton’s husband and daughter arrived at the hospital.
The crash happened during heavy rain, and the highway conditions were dangerous enough that cars were hydroplaning. The sequence turned what began as an act of assistance into a serious emergency for Taunton and her family.
Life-threatening injuries and recovery after three surgeries
Taunton suffered severe injuries in the crash, including a ruptured diaphragm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. She underwent three major surgeries and is now recovering.
Her husband told WJAR that doctors believe she should be able to walk again if her recovery continues to go well. The family has described the process as difficult, but said they have also been overwhelmed by the support they have received.
The GoFundMe campaign says the donation will help Taunton, her husband and their three children manage costs tied to the crash and her treatment. The fundraiser has become a way to cover both immediate needs and the longer recovery period ahead.
Swift’s donation adds to support for the Taunton family
Swift’s contribution was made to the online fundraiser created for the Taunton family, according to PEOPLE. The payment adds a high-profile boost to a campaign already focused on everyday needs after a sudden medical crisis.
Joe Taunton told WJAR that the outpouring of help has been hard to take in. “It’s been a journey,” he said, adding that the support has been overwhelming.
The donation also drew attention because of the unusual circumstances behind it: a mother who stopped to help strangers, a crash that left her badly hurt, and a family trying to recover while caring for three children. The fundraiser continues to seek help for the costs that followed the July wreck.
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