The detailed findings of the autopsy report are a matter of public record and can be obtained through the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Here is a detailed exploration of the official findings, the enduring myths, and the legacy of the woman who inspired one of the most consequential safety changes in American automotive history.

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The three adults in the front seat—Mansfield, Brody, and Harrison—were killed instantly. Miraculously, the three children sleeping in the back seat survived with minor injuries. The Autopsy Report and the Decapitation Myth

The force of the impact was catastrophic. The Buick's front end crumpled as it slid under the trailer’s rear, shearing off the entire roof of the car. The vehicle's engine was pushed backward into the front seat, killing all three adults instantly.

According to the autopsy report, Mansfield sustained severe head and neck injuries, including:

Ronald B. Harrison, a driver for the Gus Stevens Dinner Club, was driving Mansfield and her lawyer and companion, Samuel S. Brody, www.history.com Jayne Mansfield's Death And The True Story Of Her Car Crash

At approximately 2:25 a.m., a truck pumping thick, white insecticide to fog mosquitos obscured the highway. Unable to see through the chemical mist, Harrison crashed at high speed into the rear of a slowing tractor-trailer. The force of the impact forced the front half of the Buick entirely underneath the truck trailer, shearing off the car's roof and instantly killing all three adults in the front seat. Remarkably, the children in the back seat survived with minor physical injuries. Detailed Findings of the Autopsy Report

The official autopsy report, filed in Orleans Parish, clarified the specific cause of death and debunked the widespread myth that Mansfield was decapitated.

The myth was fueled by several factors. First, the Buick’s roof was sheared off, and a blonde, wig-like object could be seen tangled in the wrecked windshield. This was likely either a wig Mansfield was wearing, or her actual hair and skin, torn away as the roof peeled back.

The most significant outcome of the autopsy and subsequent investigation was the legislative change in vehicle safety. The eventually mandated that all semi-trailers be equipped with a rear underride guard—now commonly known as a "Mansfield Bar" —to prevent cars from sliding under trucks in rear-end collisions. Summary of Impact Date of Incident June 29, 1967 Official Cause Traumatic brain injury / Crushed skull Survivor Status Three children in the backseat survived with minor injuries Lasting Change Federal mandate for truck underride guards Jayne Mansfield Personally Owned & Worn Blonde Wig

Tests performed during the autopsy showed no signs of alcohol or drugs in Mansfield's system, confirming that the accident was a result of poor visibility and the lack of safety underride guards on the truck. Safety Legacy: The "Mansfield Bar"

Actionable steps to research the autopsy report and primary sources