Community Bands Together To Assist Ledyard Woman Hit By Vehicle After Stopping To Help Motorists

LEDYARD, CT — The community is rallying to help the family of a local woman who was seriously injured in an accident along a Rhode Island highway last month.

A GoFundMe campaign, “Support Ashley Taunton’s Brave Recovery,” aims to raise $16,000.

As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., it had raised $12,376 via 232 donations.

According to the woman’s friend, campaign organizer Laura Ortelt, money raised will benefit Ashley, her husband, Joe, and their three children.

During a rainstorm on Saturday, July 18, Ashley Taunton was traveling on I-95 and pulled over to help motorists who had been involved in a single car accident, according to Ortelt.

“Ashley did what she always does: she put others before herself,” the campaign states. “As Joe so perfectly puts it, it was just ‘Ashley doing Ashley things.’”

While she was helping, another vehicle hydroplaned and came directly toward them.

“In a split-second act of pure bravery, Ashley pushed the other person out of harm's way, taking the brunt of the impact herself,” the campaign states.

Ashley was seriously injured and is currently still hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, where she has had to undergo multiple surgeries, according to the campaign.

Money raised will help the family with household bills, travel expenses for hospital visits, meals and groceries, and medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Visit the GoFundMe campaign page HERE. A Meal Train fundraising effort to help the family can be found HERE.