Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift seemingly muted a Donald Trump TikTok video featuring her song, prompting the campaign to retaliate by reclaiming her track 'Red' as a new anthem for the GOP. Ronald Woan/Flickr CC BY-SA 4.0

Pop star Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 (£36,900) to a GoFundMe campaign for Ashley Taunton, a 42-year-old Connecticut mom who sustained severe injuries after pushing a teenager out of the path of an oncoming car on I-95 in Rhode Island on 18 July.

For context, the former certified nursing assistant had been travelling south with her youngest daughter when she spotted a collision ahead. Taunton pulled over, instructed her child to remain inside the vehicle, and walked over to assist three teenagers who were a bit banged up but appeared relatively okay.

Mom Pushes Teen From Path of Vehicle

The rescue took a terrifying turn when another car hydroplaned on the rain-soaked road. According to a crash report Taunton shared with PEOPLE, the approaching vehicle suddenly lost control in the second southbound lane, heading directly toward the stranded group. Sensing the immediate danger, Taunton shoved 19-year-old Vinny, who was standing closest to her, out of the vehicle's path before she was struck herself.

'It just felt like a big explosion,' Taunton said. 'I just remember being on the ground and I could see my ankle was just hanging there. I went to try to get up and I couldn't breathe.' Her daughter rushed over to hold her hand until emergency responders arrived at the scene.

Long Road to Recovery After Severe Injuries

According to PEOPLE, Taunton was admitted to Rhode Island Hospital with life-threatening injuries, including bilateral internal carotid artery dissection, liver and spleen lacerations, multiple fractured ribs and a ruptured diaphragm. After spending 30 days in hospital and undergoing three surgeries, Taunton returned home on 17 August. Her recovery could take up to 12 months.

Taunton later learned that the teenager she had helped was the son of a longtime friend. She had met the 19-year-old in 2020 and had been friends with his mother, Jamie O'Rourke, for 14 years. O'Rourke discovered what had happened after crossing paths with Taunton's family in the hospital corridors.

Upon learning that her friend had put herself in danger to shield her son, an emotional O'Rourke praised Taunton's courage, remarking, 'She saved my son's life.'

Taylor Swift Donates $50K to Injured Mom

The family faced mounting financial pressures until Swift donated $50,000 to the family's campaign on 28 August, alongside a message wishing Taunton and her loved ones well. The donation was first reported by TMZ and subsequently confirmed by NBC News. The GoFundMe had surpassed $64,000 (£47,200), while a separate Meal Train campaign raised more than $16,000 (£11,800). Together, the two fundraisers had raised more than $80,000 (£59,000).

The fundraiser is intended to help the family with household bills, hospital travel, meals, groceries and medical expenses not covered by insurance. According to prior reporting, Swift has a history of philanthropy, having contributed $250,000 (£184,000) to Kansas City nonprofit Operation Breakthrough in December 2024 and donating to several organisations following the Los Angeles wildfires.

Swift has not issued a separate public statement regarding the recent gift. Meanwhile, Taunton acknowledged that the ordeal has taught her not to take things for granted and reshaped how she views her time.

'I want to make sure that I am taking time, even if it's just going to grab a coffee with a friend, because we never know how you're going to leave this earth,' Taunton said.

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