Taylor Swift Responds After Car Crashes Into Gate of Her Rhode Island Home

Taylor Swift Responds After Car Crashes Into Gate of Her Rhode Island Home
Recording artist Taylor Swift accepts the Top Female Artist award onstage during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on May 20, 2018. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Taylor Swift knows all too well that “nothing good starts in a getaway car.”

The 29-year-old pop star invoked the lyrics of her own song, “Getaway Car,” in response to a police chase April 2, that ended with a stolen car crashing into the gates of her beachfront home in Rhode Island.

Car crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift's beachfront home
A car after it crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift’s beachfront home in Westerly, R.I. Police said the car was stolen in Hartford, Conn., and that officers from Hopkinton and Westerly pursued the vehicle with four occupants around 1 a.m. April 2, 2019. (Hopkinton Police Department/AP)

A fan of the singer shared a post from Entertainment Tonight Canada about the crash on Instagram Wednesday. Swift posted the lyric in the comments section, along with a shrugging emoji.

View this post on Instagram

Well played. #CommentsByCelebs

A post shared by Comments By Celebs (@commentsbycelebs) on

Swift wasn’t home, though police do plan to ask for surveillance video from her property to help the investigation, Westerly Police Chief Shawn Lacey said Wednesday.

The chase started around 1 a.m. Tuesday when a Hopkinton officer on patrol noticed the car had no license plates and tried to pull it over, Lacey told The Sun of Westerly. The pursuit, which reached speeds of 65 mph, crossed into Westerly, where Swift has a home.

Swift has recently reported trouble with stalking, but Lacey said there’s no indication that the occupants of the vehicle knew who owned the home.

Car crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift's beachfront home
A car after it crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift’s beachfront home in Westerly, R.I. Police said the car was stolen in Hartford, Conn., and that officers from Hopkinton and Westerly pursued the vehicle with four occupants around 1 a.m. April 2, 2019. (Hopkinton Police Department/AP)

Police say the car failed to negotiate a 90-degree curve near Swift’s home, struck the wall outside her property and ricocheted into the main entrance gate, according to police reports. Police estimated the car, which they said was stolen in nearby Connecticut, was going about 35 mph at the time.

Three of the car’s occupants—the 19-year-old driver, an 18-year-old man, and a 16-year-old boy—were taken to the hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries. A fourth occupant, age 18, fled on foot but was tracked down just after 4 a.m. Tuesday when his brother drove from Connecticut to pick him up.

Car crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift's beachfront home
A car after it crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift’s beachfront home in Westerly, R.I. Police said the car was stolen in Hartford, Conn., and that officers from Hopkinton and Westerly pursued the vehicle with four occupants around 1 a.m. April 2, 2019. (Hopkinton Police Department/AP)

After the crash, police determined the car had been reported stolen, Lacey said.

The driver, Shykeim Edwin Lewis, 19, of Hartford, Connecticut, faces several charges including reckless driving and receiving stolen goods. He was held on $10,000 bond after a Tuesday court appearance and referred to the public defender’s office.

Car crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift's beachfront home
A car after it crashed into the gates of singer Taylor Swift’s beachfront home in Westerly, R.I. Police said the car was stolen in Hartford, Conn., and that officers from Hopkinton and Westerly pursued the vehicle with four occupants around 1 a.m. April 2, 2019. (Hopkinton Police Department/AP)

A message was left with the public defender’s office seeking comment.

The car’s three other occupants have not been charged, but police say the investigation continues.

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments