Mariska Hargitay's Survival of 1967 Car Accident Led to 'Mansfield Bar' Safety Regulation
Actress Mariska Hargitay, at three years old, survived a tragic 1967 car accident that killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield, and two other adults. The incident, which occurred when their car underran a tractor-trailer, was a pivotal moment in automotive safety history. The severe nature of the crash, where the car's roof was peeled back, led to public outcry and ultimately prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate underride guards on semi-trailers. These safety devices, colloquially known as 'Mansfield Bars,' are designed to prevent cars from sliding underneath trucks in rear-end collisions, a design flaw that proved fatal in the 1967 accident.
