"Cause of death: Multiple fractures of the skull and face, with lacerations of the brain and hemorrhage, and fracture dislocation of the cervical spine."
The confusion stems from language in both the police and autopsy reports. The official police report on the accident stated: .
The most significant real-world outcome of the accident and subsequent investigation was the introduction of a new safety feature for vehicles:
Disclaimer: This article discusses forensic findings and graphic details regarding the death of Jayne Mansfield. Information is based on publicly available records, including news reports from the time and verified death certificate details. If you'd like, I can: Tell you more about . Look into the legacy of her children. Compare her story to other Hollywood tragedies . Share public link jayne mansfield autopsy report
First responders and photographers saw what appeared to be a blonde-haired head on the dash or road. In reality, this was Mansfield's blonde wig, which had been thrown from the car during the impact.
In reality, the blonde hair belonged to a custom platinum wig that Mansfield was wearing at the time of the accident. The force of the collision threw the wig from her head, leading witnesses and later the public to believe she had been decapitated. Inside the Official Autopsy Report
In the early morning hours of June 29, 1967, Jayne Mansfield, her boyfriend Sam Brody, and their driver, Ronnie Harrison, were traveling from Biloxi, Mississippi, toward New Orleans, Louisiana. Mansfield had just completed a nightclub performance and was scheduled for an appearance the following day. Three of Mansfield’s children—Marilyn, Mickey Jr., and Mariska Hargitay (who would grow up to star in Law & Order: SVU )—were asleep in the backseat. "Cause of death: Multiple fractures of the skull
Incredibly, the three children in the back seat survived with only minor injuries. As they were sleeping, their bodies were slumped over, which kept them out of the path of the deadly collapse of the roof. They were thrown from the wreck but escaped mostly unharmed. It was a miracle that stood in stark contrast to the violent death of their mother.
The official cause of death was listed as a . This fatal injury occurred instantly when the Buick Electra she was traveling in collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer. Key Details from the Findings
Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer; April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) died in a car crash on U.S. Route 90 near Slidell, Louisiana. The official investigations concluded that she sustained fatal injuries in the collision; other passengers, including her boyfriend Sam Brody and her attorney, also died. The widely circulated claims about a sensationalized "autopsy report" detailing grisly causes were the result of rumors and tabloid exaggeration rather than verified forensic findings. Compare her story to other Hollywood tragedies
: Despite official records stating her body was "in one piece," the graphic nature of the accident—where the car's top was virtually sheared off by the truck's rear—fueled the legend for decades. Accident Context
The car was traveling west on U.S. Route 90 near the Rigolets Bridge in Slidell, Louisiana. According to the Louisiana State Police investigation, the Buick—traveling at high speed—slammed into the rear of a tractor-trailer truck that was slowly passing another slow-moving vehicle. The truck’s lowered rear bumper acted as a "shear." The Buick’s roof was peeled off almost entirely above the front seat, crushing the upper compartment where Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison were seated.
: The car struck the rear of a tractor-trailer that had slowed down due to a thick white fog created by a mosquito-spraying machine.