Pop star Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 to help a mother who was seriously injured while stopping to assist teenagers during a severe rainstorm. Ashley Taunton, a 42-year-old certified nursing assistant from Rhode Island, was driving south on Interstate 95 with her youngest daughter when she noticed a group of teenagers whose car had hydroplaned. She pulled over to help the teens and stayed nearby while speaking with them before another vehicle came toward the group. Taunton pushed a teenage driver out of the way and was struck herself by the oncoming car.
The young man she saved turned out to be someone she had met in 2020 but did not recognize at first, according to AOL. Taunton was hospitalized with injuries including a ruptured diaphragm and internal bleeding from the crash, according to a report from the New York Daily News. Doctors said her recovery could take up to a year and include physical therapy.
Swift contributed the money on August 28 through a fundraiser created to support the family’s expenses during recovery. The fund raised more than $75,000 by the time of the news report, with additional support from a separate Meal Train campaign that had collected more than $16,000.
Taunton said she did not see herself as heroic but acted out of instinct when she saw someone in need. She described the moment of impact as feeling like a big explosion and recalled being on the ground with her ankle hanging loose.
Swift’s gift was shared publicly after Taunton saw Swift’s name and the $50,000 amount and reacted with surprise, Yahoo News reported. This act of kindness by Swift is not the first time she has donated to those in need. Taunton’s story was originally published by Parade on Aug 29, 2026.
The family is using the funds for medical bills, daily living costs, travel to hospitals, and groceries for their three children.
IMAGE: Taylor Swift with then-CEO Terry Semel and founder David Filo at Yahoo Sunnyvale. Photo: Yahoo! Music / Wikimedia, taken 2007-05-16, CC BY 2.0