Taylor Swift sends $50,000 and a heartfelt message to a mother who nearly died saving some teenagers

Taylor Swift has donated $50,000 to support Ashley Taunton , a Connecticut mother of three who suffered devastating injuries after risking her own life to protect teenagers involved in a highway crash.

The 42-year-old was driving south on Interstate 95 in Rhode Island with her youngest daughter on July 18 when she spotted three teenagers whose vehicle had hydroplaned during a powerful rainstorm. Instead of passing the scene, the certified nursing assistant pulled over to see if she could help.

“When I see there’s somebody in trouble, I tend to want to go help,” Taunton told People.

She parked roughly 30 yards from the crash and instructed her daughter to remain safely inside their vehicle. Taunton then approached the teenagers, who appeared shaken and had sustained some injuries but initially seemed to be relatively okay.

The situation quickly became far more dangerous. Another vehicle traveling along the rain-soaked highway lost control and began heading toward Taunton and the teenagers. Realizing one of the young people was directly in the vehicle’s path, Taunton reacted immediately.

She pushed the teenager out of harm’s way, but she couldn't escape the approaching vehicle herself.

The collision left Taunton with severe, potentially fatal injuries. She suffered multiple broken ribs, internal bleeding, injuries to her liver and spleen, and a ruptured diaphragm.

She was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, where she began what doctors expected could be a lengthy recovery involving extensive physical therapy.

Taylor Swift steps in to support a hero

While Taunton was recovering, a GoFundMe campaign was established to help her family deal with medical expenses and other financial pressures. Her husband, Joe , and their three children have been supporting her as she faces months of rehabilitation.

Swift's $50,000 contribution became the fundraiser's largest individual donation. The pop superstar also included a personal message with her gift, writing, “Wishing you the best recovery possible and sending love to your family!” She signed the message simply, “Taylor.”

The donation adds to Swift's long history of providing financial support to people and organizations facing difficult circumstances. Over the years, the singer has donated to food banks, disaster-relief efforts and individuals dealing with financial hardship.

Taunton's story became even more personal when she discovered that the teenager she had pushed out of danger was Vinny , the son of her longtime friend Jamie O'Rourke. The two women had known each other for years, but neither initially realized Taunton was the person who had saved Vinny during the crash.

O'Rourke was stunned when she learned what had happened. She later described Taunton as courageous for putting herself in danger to protect her son.

Despite everything she's endured, Taunton has said the frightening experience has changed her outlook on life. She feels grateful simply to be alive and has vowed to make more time for family and friends rather than constantly postponing plans.