Mariska Hargitay Reveals Being Left Behind at Fatal 1967 Crash Scene

Mariska Hargitay, star of Law & Order: SVU, has revealed in her directorial debut documentary 'My Mom Jayne' that she was accidentally left behind at the scene of the 1967 car crash that killed her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. At just three years old, Mariska and her two brothers survived the crash, which occurred when their car collided with an 18-wheeler on a foggy highway, killing the adults in the front seat instantly. While the children were initially placed in a rescue vehicle, her brother Zoltan noticed Mariska was missing, prompting rescuers to return and find her lodged under the passenger seat with a head injury. The documentary also explores family dynamics, including Mariska's discovery in adulthood that her biological father is Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay. The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival, with family members present, and serves as Mariska's personal recounting of the tragedy and its aftermath. Through this project, she aims to tell her own story and reflects on the impact of her mother's legacy beyond her glamorous public image.