Jayne Mansfield Autopsy Report ((free)) Today
If you are researching this topic for a specific project, let me know if you need information regarding:
In response, the federal government mandated that all commercial semi-trailers be equipped with a rear underride guard—a steel bar designed to prevent passenger vehicles from sliding underneath a truck during a rear-end collision. Today, this safety device is universally known in the automotive and trucking industries as the Conclusion
, contrary to a persistent urban legend. The misconception arose from police photographs showing her blonde wig tangled in the smashed windshield of the vehicle. The official cause of death and findings included: Primary Cause of Death : A "crushed skull with avulsion of cranium and brain". Head Trauma jayne mansfield autopsy report
Verify claims and avoid unreliable sources
The autopsy notes the collapse of the thoracic cage. Her ribs were shattered, and the sternum was broken. This resulted in severe lacerations to the lungs and the heart. If you are researching this topic for a
The roof of the Buick was completely peeled back by the underside of the semi-truck, suggesting to the public that anyone inside would have suffered a similar fate.
The report concluded that death was instantaneous. Mansfield did not suffer after the point of impact. Toxicology reports also showed that while she had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening, she was a passenger, and her driver's sobriety—or lack thereof—along with the poor visibility, was the primary legal focus of the crash investigation. The Legacy of the Accident: Under-Ride Guards The official cause of death and findings included:
—to prevent cars from sliding under trailers during rear-end collisions. Survivors:
While the autopsy report closed the book on the medical reality of Mansfield's death, the crash itself sparked a massive shift in transportation safety.
The toxicology screen performed during the autopsy was notable for what it did not find: Her blood alcohol level was 0.00%.
Public outrage and safety investigations following the high-profile crash prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate federal safety requirements for the trucking industry. The government ordered that all commercial semi-trailers be outfitted with rear underride guards—steel bars hanging from the rear bumper designed to stop a car from sliding beneath the trailer. Today, these life-saving safety devices are still universally referred to as "Mansfield bars."