Following the accident, photographs of the mangled Buick began to circulate. These images, combined with the extreme damage to the vehicle, led to the widespread urban legend that Mansfield had been decapitated.
The toxicology screen performed during the autopsy was notable for what it did not find: Her blood alcohol level was 0.00%. jayne mansfield autopsy report
The report explicitly notes that her head remained attached to her body. The injuries were localized to the upper skull and brain tissue, rather than the neck. Following the accident, photographs of the mangled Buick
The impact caused a partial evisceration of the cranium and brain matter. In medical terms, she suffered an "avulsion" of the cranium—meaning a significant portion of her skull and scalp was torn away by the sheer force of the metal trailer slicing through the car. While her head injuries were catastrophic and caused instantaneous death, her head remained attached to her body. Additional Injuries The report explicitly notes that her head remained
Crushed skull with an avulsion of the cranium and brain . In medical terms, an avulsion denotes the forcible tearing away or separation of tissue. The edge of the truck bed struck Mansfield at the brow line, slicing open the upper skull and displacing cranial tissue, resulting in instantaneous death.