All About Jayne Mansfield's 5 Children - People.com
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that the Buick had "underrun" the trailer—a common occurrence in rear-end collisions with heavy trucks at the time. To prevent such tragedies, the government eventually mandated that all semi-trailers be equipped with rear underrun guards. Today, these steel bars are still colloquially known as Legacy and Aftermath jayne mansfield autopsy report
At approximately 2:25 AM, their 1966 Buick Electra collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 90. The truck had slowed down behind a mosquito fogging machine that had obscured the road with a thick white mist. The Buick slid under the trailer, shearing off the top of the car. All three adults in the front seat were killed instantly, while the children in the back miraculously survived with minor injuries. Clinical Findings: The Autopsy Report All About Jayne Mansfield's 5 Children - People
The autopsy noted severe cranial trauma, described as an "avulsion of the scalp and portion of the cranium." While the injury was extreme and certainly horrific, her head remained attached to her body. The Birth of "Mansfield Bars" Highway 90
The primary cause of death was listed as a crushed skull with partial separation of the cranium and brain .
Her children went on to lead successful lives, most notably Mariska Hargitay , who became a celebrated actress and advocate through her role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .