Taylor Swift Donates $50K to Aid Injured Mom After Heroic I-95 Rescue

Taylor Swift gave $50,000 to a GoFundMe for Ashley Taunton, a 42-year-old Connecticut mom who suffered terrible injuries after stopping to help teenagers in a car crash on I-95 in Rhode Island last month. "Wishing you the best recovery possible and sending love to your family!" the singer wrote with her donation on Aug. 28, signing the message, "Taylor." Swift's $50,000 contribution became the fundraiser's largest individual donation. 

Taunton was driving on I-95 South in Rhode Island with her youngest daughter on July 18 when she spotted three teenagers who had been in an accident. Their vehicle hydroplaned during a bad rainstorm. She left her daughter safe inside her vehicle and walked over to the teens, who were "a little bit banged up" from the crash, Taunton told People.

Taunton tried to move the group out of danger. Then, another vehicle lost control on the wet road and came flying toward them. She managed to push one teen out of the vehicle's path, but she was injured.

The certified nursing assistant suffered multiple broken ribs, a torn diaphragm, internal bleeding, and damage to her liver and spleen. Doctors rushed her to Rhode Island Hospital. She faces what could be a year-long recovery that will require extensive physical therapy.

In a shocking twist, Taunton later discovered that one of the teenagers whose life she helped save was Vinny, the son of her longtime friend Jamie O'Rourke.

"When I see there's somebody in trouble, I tend to want to go help," Taunton added. "It feels weird if people call me a hero. I'm just a mom. Somebody was hurting. That's just what you do."

Swift has become well-known for opening her wallet to people and groups in need over the years. She makes big donations to food banks, disaster-relief efforts, and fans facing money problems.

The mom said that she is grateful to be alive. She's learned not to take her time with loved ones for granted as she faces the long road to recovery.