The Mansfield Bar

Sometimes deaths inspire new inventions, such as the death of Jayne Mansfield.
 

This is the cenotaph erected in Jayne's honor by the Jayne Mansfield Fan Club.

Jayne's remains are actually interred at Fairview Cemetery in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania; not Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

 As with many of my recent features, the year of birth is incorrect on her cenotaph.

Born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19th, 1933, Jayne was a blonde bombshell of the 50's, one of Playboy's first pin-ups, and mother to Law & Order: SVU actress, Mariska Hargitay.

On June 29th, 1967 at approximately 0225, Jayne met a gruesome demise. Jayne, her lover, Sam Brody, driver, Ronnie Harrison, and 3 of her 5 children were traveling down US Hwy 90 in Jayne's 1966 Buick Electra 225. She had just finished a gig in Biloxi, Mississippi and was headed to New Orleans, Louisiana for an early morning interview. After crossing the Rigolets Bridge, the Buick rear-ended a tractor-trailer that had slowed down for a truck up ahead that was spraying bug repellent. Going at a rate of speed of 80mph, Jayne's car went under the trailer, instantly killing all 3 adults.

Many claimed Jayne was decapitated, however this is incorrect. Jayne did suffer an avulsion, though, and was essentially scalped.

Following the accident, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration began requiring all trailers to come equipped with an underride guard to prevent these sorts of accidents in the future. The underride guard is affectionately termed a "Mansfield Bar".

The Buick, complete with blood stains, was purchased by Buddy Hough of St. Augustine, Florida. Buddy displayed the alleged death car in his museum, Tragedy in US History, until his death in 1996.

Sadly, the museum shuttered under his widow, Debra, and the doors closed April 1998. All the death memorabilia, including Jayne's crushed Buick, was sold at auction.