Pop superstar Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 to a mother of three who suffered severe injuries while saving teenagers following a highway car crash.
The victim, 42-year-old Ashley Taunton, was driving along the highway in Rhode Island last month when she spotted a car driven by a teenager that had skidded off the road due to heavy rain, according to the Daily Mail.
In an interview with People magazine, Taunton said two other children were inside the vehicle and were slightly injured. Taunton stepped out of her vehicle to safely move the young passengers away from the crash site. While attempting to rescue them, she was struck by another passing vehicle that had also skidded on the wet road.
Taunton recalled thinking at the moment of impact that it was the end for her. She added that while inside the ambulance she prayed constantly because she did not want to die.
Hospitalization and injuries
Medical reports revealed that Taunton suffered fractures along with multiple lacerations to her liver and spleen. Despite the severity of her internal injuries, doctors confirmed that Taunton survived the immediate danger. She remains hospitalized as she continues her recovery and rehabilitation.
To cover the extensive physical therapy required for her ongoing recovery, Taunton and her husband launched a campaign on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe with a target of $110,000.
By Friday evening on August 28, public support for the fundraiser had pushed the total beyond $64,000. The largest single contribution to the campaign was the $50,000 donation registered by Swift.
Charitable giving
The major contribution is part of a broader pattern of philanthropy for Swift. A short time prior to this donation, Swift and her husband, NFL player Travis Kelce, donated $26 million to at least 20 charitable organizations ahead of their wedding in July.
Taunton continues her physical therapy treatment in hospital while the online fundraiser remains open to help reach the full $110,000 medical goal.
