Just discovered the origin of the Mansfield Bar. Had no idea of the story behind it. What other huge popular culture events will end up being explained by a Tiktokker to Gen Z?

[mumofoneAloneandwell]

Jayne Mansfield, was a model and actress, and the mother of Mariska Hargitay who plays Olivia Benson on Law and Order.

She died after driving into the back of a lorry. The car slid under the lorry, killing her, her husband and the driver, and leaving her 3 kids in the back alive.

Now trucks have a bar at the back so that, if an accident happens, the car will collide with the bar instead of going under the lorry.

Such an awful story, had no idea that Olivia Benson has survived her own hell irl 🥺

Anyway, I feel like a part of getting older, is young people not knowing about huge events that touched us all.

No aibu, just shocked 😳

I've never heard of a Mansfield Bar but I remember very well the horrific way Jayne Mansfield died and that she was was decapitated in that awful accident.
I was very young when it happened but it was very shocking at the time and has always stayed in my memory.

The undertaker apparently later confirmed that that didn't happen (although she did suffer extreme head trauma, unsurprisingly). The myth started supposedly because onlookers saw her wig tangled in the wreckage. Absolutely horrific accident, those poor children

Shocking thing to happen but to also survive, omg 🥺

How awful that it takes someone passing for safety to be improved. Its the same with the smart motorways, have they been sorted yet? Bloody ridiculous

I didn't realise it was a myth.
Still really horrendous. And, as you say, especially for her children.

Didn't know any of this. Fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing @mumofoneAloneandwell What a sad loss of a beautiful young actress, and mother to 3 children. Awful thing to happen.

I have heard of Jayne of course, but didn't know she was only 34 when she died.

I hadn't heard of her at all 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ - i'm 34 now, how awful a loss eh

Dreadful loss. So young.

There's an excellent new documentary about Jayne Mansfield, made by her daughter, available on Now TV