'law & Order: Svu' Star Mariska Hargitay Discovers She Was Left Behind At Scene Of Mother's Tragic Accident

"Law & Order: SVU" prima Mariska Hargitay uncovered a shocking item astir nan car clang that killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield. 

During nan filming of nan 61-year-old actress's caller documentary "My Mom Jayne," Hargitay had a speech pinch her relative Zoltan Hargitay successful which she learned that she had been accidentally near down astatine nan segment of nan 1967 mishap that claimed nan life of her mother arsenic good Mansfield's fellow Sam Brody and driver Ronald B. Harrison. 

At nan clip of nan crash, Mansfield, Brody and Harrison were successful nan beforehand spot of nan conveyance while Harigitay, Zoltan and their older relative Mickey Hargitay Jr. were dormant successful nan backseat. In nan film, Zoltan recalled really Mansfield had moved up to nan beforehand spot during an statement pinch Brody, according to People magazine.

"I often deliberation astir why she didn't conscionable enactment successful nan backseat pinch us?" Zoltan said successful nan documentary.

Mariska Hargitay discovered that she was accidentally near down successful nan car clang that killed her mother, Jayne Mansfield.  (Pascal Le Segretain/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR)

"But I retrieve her comforting me, telling maine I was going to beryllium fine. 20 minutes later, half an hour, I heard her shriek truthful loud, and that was it," he continued arsenic he became emotional. 

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Ahead of nan accident, nan group was driving from Biloxi, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana, wherever Mansfield was group to make a tv appearance. While connected nan highway, their car slammed into nan backmost of an 18-wheeler that had slowed down hardly southbound of nan Mississippi border, according to nan New York Times. The conveyance was shrouded successful a dense fog from a adjacent anti-mosquito spray truck.

All of nan adults successful nan beforehand spot were killed instantly, but nan children successful nan backseat survived pinch injuries.

Mansfield and 2 others died successful nan 1967 accident.  (Getty Images)

Mickey, who was 8 astatine nan time, recalled waking up successful nan backmost spot of a car pursuing nan clang and reasoning that he saw Mansfield sitting successful nan beforehand seat. 

"It felt for illustration my tegument didn't move, because it was bloody each over," he remembered successful nan film, via People. 

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However, aft nan female successful nan beforehand spot turned around, Mickey realized that she was not Mansfield, and he was "in a car pinch a blonde-haired female who had helped rescue nan children."

When Zoltan, past 6-years-old, woke up successful nan car, he noticed that Hargitay, who was 3-years-old astatine nan time, was not pinch them. He asked nan adults wherever his small sister was, starring them to recognize that a 3rd kid had been successful nan car astatine nan clip of nan crash. The adults past circled backmost to nan segment of nan accident, wherever Hargitay had been pulled to safety. 

In nan film, nan children's stepmother Ellen Hargitay explained that nan adults initially missed Hargitay because she had been lodged nether nan rider spot pinch a caput injury. 

"Thank God Zolie woke up," Ellen said.

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Mariska and her brothers survived nan crash.  (Getty Images)

"My Mom Jayne" premiered during nan Tribeca Festival connected June 13 astatine New York City's Carnegie Hall. The movie first debuted connected May 17 astatine nan 2025 Cannes Film Festival. During a May question and reply pinch Vanity Fair, Hargitay explained that nan documentary, which marks nan actress's directorial debut, helped her reside nan nonaccomplishment of her mother.

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"I don’t retrieve nan accident," she told nan outlet. "I don’t moreover retrieve being told that my mom had died. I looked astatine photos, and I don’t really retrieve thing until I was 5."

While speaking pinch Vanity Fair, Hargitay revealed that her biologic begetter is erstwhile Las Vegas entertainer Nelson Sardelli. She and her brothers were raised by precocious character and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay. 

In 1963, Mansfield revenge for divorcement from Mickey, who died successful 2006 astatine property 80. She past embarked connected a high-profile romance pinch Sardelli. The character went connected to reconcile pinch Mickey respective months earlier Hargitay’s commencement successful 1964.

Hargitay told nan outlet that she had agelong suspected that Mickey, whom she idolized, was not her biologic father. While Hargitay was successful her 20s, her suspicions were confirmed erstwhile she saw a photograph of Sardelli.

Mickey Hargitay Jr., Giovanna, Pietra, Nelson Sardelli, Mariska Hargitay, Ellen Hargitay, Zoltan Hargitay, Peter Hermann and Jayne Marie Mansfield be nan "My Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitay" premiere during nan 2025 Tribeca Festival astatine Carnegie Hall connected June 13, 2025, successful New York City (John Nacion/WireImage)

At property 30, Hargitay first met her biologic begetter erstwhile she went to see Sardelli execute successful Atlantic City.  Hargitay yet forged a enslaved pinch Sardelli, 90, and his daughters, Giovanna and Pietra Sardelli.

According to People magazine, Sardelli, Giovanna, Pietra and Jayne Marie attended nan New York City premiere of "My Mom Jayne" alongside Hargitay. 

Mansfield, calved Vera Jayne Palmer, was an aspiring character who said respective languages and played violin and piano. A casting head suggested she bleach her hair, deterioration tighter dresses and adopt a Marilyn Monroe-inspired voice. The "dumb blonde" persona stuck, and Mansfield skyrocketed to fame successful Hollywood. But for illustration Monroe, Mansfield struggled to beryllium taken earnestly arsenic an actress.

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"When I would perceive that clone voice, it utilized to conscionable flip maine out," Hargitay recalled to Vanity Fair. "'Why is she talking for illustration that? That’s not real.' [But] my dada would ever say, ‘She wasn’t for illustration that astatine all. She was for illustration you. She was funny and irreverent and fearless and real.'"

"My Mom Jayne" will premiere June 27 connected HBO and HBO Max.

Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.