In a heartbreaking incident on the night of June 29, 1967, popular actress and Playboy model Jayne Mansfield was traveling west on Highway 90 towards New Orleans, LA, following a performance at a nightclub in Biloxi, MS.
Accompanying her were her three children—Mickey, Zoltan, and Mariska Hargitay—four Chihuahuas, her lawyer, and driver.
Tragedy struck when their vehicle collided with the back of a slow-moving semi-truck enveloped by a dense fog of insecticide spray, resulting in the death of all three adults in the front seats.
The untimely demise of the young Hollywood starlet garnered widespread media coverage, prompting the introduction of new highway safety measures.
One significant regulation mandated that large trucks be fitted with a safety feature known as a DOT bar, colloquially referred to as the “Mansfield bar.”
Following Mansfield’s fatal accident, speculations emerged regarding the circumstances of her death, with some alleging that she had been decapitated during the crash.
Reports suggested that a tangle of blond hair found on the car’s windshield might have been her head, fueling further sensationalism surrounding the tragic event.
Known for her headline-making moments, Mansfield’s passing continued to captivate public attention, with debates arising over the authenticity of the decapitation rumors.
Despite the coroner’s official statement attributing her death to a crushed skull with cranial avulsion and brain injury, conjectures persisted about the hair fragment found on the wreckage, speculated to be part of her wig, scalp, or even her entire head.
In response to the fatal collision involving Mansfield, the development of the “Mansfield bar” became a pivotal safety enhancement for large trucks.
This structural modification aimed to prevent vehicles from sliding beneath trucks during accidents, thereby reducing the risk of severe injuries or fatalities.
Curious individuals now have the opportunity to view the actual vehicle involved in Mansfield’s tragedy, displayed at Dearly Departed Tours in Hollywood, CA, since October 2018.
The car serves as a tangible reminder of the repercussions of road accidents and the importance of stringent safety regulations.
Despite her public image as a glamorous icon, Mansfield possessed remarkable talents, including fluency in five languages, proficiency in playing the violin and piano, and reportedly having a genius-level IQ.
However, societal focus on her physical attributes overshadowed her intellectual capabilities during her career.
The fatal crash claimed the lives of the three adults in the vehicle, while Mansfield’s children and two Chihuahuas survived the ordeal.
Miraculously, the children, who were resting in the back seat during the collision, escaped the brunt of the impact.
While Mickey and Zoltan chose to lead private lives post-accident, Mariska Hargitay pursued an acting career, achieving fame for her role as Detective Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, bearing a scar from the tragic incident.
