Gone In An Instant
Throughout Hollywood history, there's been a surprising number of celebrities who have perished before their time in car crashes—and each story is more heartbreaking than the last.
Jayne Mansfield
Bold, brash, and smart as a whip, Jayne Mansfield simply loved to push the limits of decency. Making great use of her buxom figure, Mansfield was not only a rabidly popular actress, but also one of the most vivacious and visible sex symbols of her age—until it all ended in one of the most shocking tragedies Hollywood had ever seen.
Comet Photo AG, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jayne Mansfield’s Shocking End
In the early morning hours of June 29, 1967, the final tragedy of Mansfield's short life occurred. She was on her way to New Orleans with her driver, her attorney, and her children Miklos, Zoltan, and little Mariska. At 2:25 am, their Buick slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer that had been covered in a thick fog of insecticide. When the mist cleared, the truth was unbearable.
When the Buick hit the trailer, all three adults in the front seat perished instantly; Mansfield herself was tragically only 34 years old at the time.
Lennart Nygren, Wikimedia Commons
The Controversy Of Jayne Mansfield’s Death
When news broke of Mansfield's violent death, wild rumors started flying. In particular, many people began to whisper that the force of the crash had decapitated the starlet. One of the biggest confirmations for this came from a real photograph of the scene, which seemed to show her signature blonde hair pressed into the windshield of the wreckage. The truth, however, was much different.
Mansfield hadn’t been decapitated, but part of her blonde wig had flown off in the accident, creating the illusion that her scalp had been sheared off. Nonetheless, the urban legend about her decapitation still persists—as if her end wasn’t tragic enough.
Comet Photo AG, Wikimedia Commons
Grace Kelly
Fairy tales aren’t real—unless you’re Grace Kelly. Or at least, that’s how it seemed to fans as they watched her ascent to stardom and subsequent romance with a real-life prince. When Kelly tied the knot with Prince Rainier III of Monaco, she stepped back from Hollywood in order to fulfill her duties as Princess.
It really did seem like a happily ever after—until it all came tumbling down.
Pierre Tourigny, Wikimedia Commons
Grace Kelly’s Fatal Accident
In 1982, Grace suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage while behind the wheel with her daughter Stephanie in the passenger seat. She lost control of the car, and though Stephanie tried to help, the car ultimately plummeted off the side of the mountainous road.
Another hemorrhage struck while Kelly was at the hospital, and she perished at the age of 52.
Howell Conant, Wikimedia Commons
Randy “Macho Man” Savage
Randy Savage was one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and definitely one of the most famous—appearing in the WWF at a time when he and Hulk Hogan ruled the ring and the airwaves.
Savage was also the spokesperson for Slim Jim snacks—remember “Snap into a Slim Jim, ooooh yeah”? He also appeared in TV and film, including 2002’s Spider-Man.
David Fitzgerald, Wikimedia Commons
Randy Savage’s Final Moments
In 2011, Savage was driving his Jeep Wrangler near his home in Seminole, Florida, with his wife in the passenger seat, when he suddenly became unresponsive and crashed into a tree. He died at the scene at the age of 58. An autopsy later revealed he was suffering from heart problems and had a sudden heart attack.
John McKeon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Paul Walker
Paul Walker went from beloved teen heartthrob to the star of the breakout hit The Fast And The Furious. What began as a blockbuster turned into an entire franchise, with Walker coming along for the ride. Sadly, his need for speed extended beyond the confines of the screen.
Andre Luis, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Paul Walker’s Sudden Loss
Paul Walker’s death had eerie similarities to James Dean’s—but also some key differences. On November 30, 2013, Walker had just attended an event for his charity and had departed in his Porsche Carrera GT with his friend Roger Rodas behind the wheel. Unfortunately, Rodas lost control while speeding and crashed into a concrete lamp post. Both men died in the fiery accident.
In the aftermath, Walker’s family filed a number of lawsuits against Porsche and reached out-of-court settlements.
Ryan Dunn
Anyone who watched MTV in the early 2000s knew Jackass—the reality TV show featuring a cast of characters performing frankly idiotic stunts that mostly resulted in them hurting themselves…and a whole lot of laughter.
The TV series turned into a movie franchise, with the original team of nine cast members along for the ride—Ryan Dunn among them.
Thomas Love, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ryan Dunn’s Deadly Mistake
On June 20, 2011, Ryan Dunn posted a picture to Twitter of himself and Jackass production assistant Zachary Hartwell drinking in a bar. Not long after, he got behind the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 with Hartwell in the passenger seat.
Dunn crashed the vehicle into a tree, and both men perished in the accident. His BA was more than twice the state’s legal limit.
Andres Pérez, Wikimedia Commons
Janet Gaynor
Janet Gaynor did what few of her contemporaries in Old Hollywood could: Survive the transition from silent to sound films—and not just survive, but thrive.
The star of Sunrise and the original A Star Is Born, Gaynor was a beloved fixture in Hollywood with the Oscars to show for it. Even after a brief retirement, she enjoyed a fruitful career.
CINELANDIA magazine, Wikimedia Commons
Janet Gaynor’s Long, Sad End
Janet Gaynor had it all: A legendary career, a happy family—but then, in an instant, it was ripped away. A former policeman who was inebriated hit the taxi she was in with two other passengers.
Though Gaynor survived the accident, she sustained horrible injuries that left her in immense pain. She died two years later from health problems stemming from the accident.
Duane Allman
Duane Allman came to fame as the founder of the Allman Brothers Band, but he was also a talented and in-demand session musician for icons like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Boz Scaggs.
In 1971, his band released their landmark album At Fillmore East. Sadly, Duane Allman didn’t get to see how popular it would become.
Ed Berman, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Duane Allman’s Last Ride
During a break from touring and recording with the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman went out for a motorcycle ride on his Harley Davidson Sportster. He was driving in Macon, Georgia, when a truck stopped suddenly in an intersection. Duane swerved to avoid it but still clipped it and was thrown from his motorcycle. He survived the crash, but perished from his injuries at the hospital.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Anne Heche
When it comes to actors who really went through the wringer in the tabloids, Anne Heche has to be at the top of the list. Her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres was like catnip for the press, and that was just the start. She was lampooned for her erratic behavior, which included telling people she was an alien—without being given the grace and understanding that she was struggling with her mental health.
Finally, it looked like her life was on the right track—until it all came tumbling down.
Mingle Media TV, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Anne Heche’s String Of Accidents
On August 5, 2022, Anne Heche was involved in a series of three accidents while driving her car. She first hit an apartment garage, then fled the scene. She then hit another vehicle, again fleeing the scene, before finally striking a home and coming to a stop 30 feet inside the structure.
Everything caught fire, and Heche was stuck inside for 45 minutes before emergency workers could free her. She later died from her injuries.
MingleMediaTVNetwork, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bob Simon
His name might not sound immediately familiar, but Bob Simon was one of the most decorated news correspondents in CBS history. He won 27 Emmy awards and three Peabody awards in his career, which included work during the Vietnam War and a 20-year stint on 60 Minutes.
Sadly, just when he should’ve been enjoying his well-deserved retirement, he perished in a car accident in Manhattan.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
Lisa Lopes was one third of the girl group TLC, who had major hits in the 90s and 2000s with songs like “No Scrubs” and “Waterfalls”. Lopes also had a moment in the spotlight herself when she infamously set fire to her then-boyfriend’s sneakers in a bathtub in the mansion they shared.
The fire spread, ultimately consuming the entire structure. Sadly, it wasn’t the last time she was part of a horrific tragedy.
Lisa Lopes’ Fatal Mistake
On April 25, 2002, Lopes was behind the wheel when she swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic to avoid a truck and then again to avoid an oncoming vehicle. She hit two trees and the car rolled multiple times before coming to a stop. Lopes was thrown from the vehicle and died instantly, the one to perish in the crash—all because she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
But it gets even eerier. Lopes had narrowly escaped death just two weeks before when she was the passenger in an accident that sadly took the life of a ten-year-old boy. His family name was Lopez, and Lisa remarked that she felt like the wrong life had been taken in the first accident.
Bob Clark
Bob Clark was a filmmaker with a checkered CV. He was the man at the helm of a wide variety of films, including the slash Black Christmas, the racy comedy Porky’s, and even the Christmas classic A Christmas Story.
Bob Clark’s Sad End
In 2011, Clark and his 22-year-old son were driving on the Pacific Coast Highway when they were struck by an oncoming vehicle. Both father and son died instantly. The driver of the other vehicle was under the influence, and was ultimately sentenced to six years behind bars.
George S Patton
You don’t need to be a WWII buff to know General George S Patton’s name—he was one of the most decorated leaders in military history. His triumphs on the battlefield were contrasted by tales of his brash behavior and strong temper. But ultimately, his dark end didn’t happen in the middle of a campaign…
Keystone Paris, Wikimedia Commons
George S Patton’s Final Battle
After Patton was relieved of his command in 1945, he remained in Germany, where he was invited on a pheasant hunting trip. Patton and his companions were driving through the countryside, observing the aftermath of the war, when his vehicle collided with, of all things, an American army truck.
It was a low speed crash, but Patton hit his head hard on the glass partition in the vehicle. He had broken his neck. He died in his sleep a few weeks later, at the age of 60.
U.S. Army Signal Corps, Wikimedia Commons
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith was called the Empress of the Blues—and for good reason. From her early years as an orphan to her time seducing the chorus girls who worked for her, Bessie Smith never shied away from drama…all the way up to the tragic accident that took her life.
Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons
Bessie Smith’s Sad End
After years of struggle and hardship, Bessie Smith’s future was looking bright—until one tragic incident changed everything. Smith and her partner were driving when he sideswiped another car. In a matter of seconds, Smith was fighting for her life.
Doctors did everything they could to save her, but ultimately, it was futile, and the beloved singer passed away at just 43 years old.
Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons
Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock was an avant-garde artist known for his pioneering work in abstract expressionism. His drip technique paintings caused as much genuine interest as they did controversy, but no one can deny his lasting impact on the world of art. However, he was taken before his time.
Smithsonian Institution, Wikimedia Commons
Jackson Pollock’s Struggles
During his lifetime, Pollock struggled with alcoholism—and he was intoxicated when he got behind the wheel of his convertible Oldsmobile on the night of August 11, 1956.
He crashed the car and perished in the accident, though his two passengers—one of whom was his mistress—survived. He was 44 years old.
Brandon DeWilde
In his short life, Brandon deWilde accomplished things many of us can only dream of. He made his Broadway debut at age seven and before he even hit his teens, he became the youngest person to be nominated for a non-juvenile Oscar when he was given the nod for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Shane.
He went on to have his own sitcom—but sadly, he met a dark end.
New York Sunday News, Wikimedia Commons
Brandon DeWilde’s Tragic End
In 1972, deWilde was involved in a car accident in Denver, Colorado. He was stuck in the wreckage before being taken to a nearby hospital, where he died at the age of 30.
Arthur Cantor, Wikimedia Commons
Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt was one of the most prolific NASCAR drivers of all time. Truly, he was THE face of the sport in the 1990s. Sadly, he perished during the final lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001—but his loss had a lasting impact.
Darryl Moran, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dale Earnhardt’s Lasting Legacy
Legendary driver Earnhardt died at a time when NASCAR was rushing to implement safety measures that would protect their drivers. It may feel like a hollow justice to those who loved him, but in the time since Earnhardt lost his life, there have been no driver fatalities.
Darryl Moran, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Cliff Burton
Metallica has a bad reputation…more for their diva behavior than any typical rock star antics. But long before the Napster controversy or the documentaries, they were simply a hard-working, hard-rocking metal band—with Cliff Burton providing the bass lines for some of metal’s most searing hit songs.
Sadly, his tenure with the band was cut short in the most tragic way.
Cliff Burton’s Tragic Loss
In 1986, Metallica’s driver lost control on the road and rolled the band’s bus several times. Frontman James Hetfield only had minor injuries and got out of the bus—only to be greeted by a horrifying sight. The bus was literally lying on top of Burton. While this seems like the worst possible scenario, it actually got even more disturbing.
The rescue team tried to use a crane to get the bus off Burton—only to drop it on him again. Burton succumbed to his injuries—but the story doesn’t end there.
Megaforce Records, Wikimedia Commons
Who’s To Blame For Cliff Burton’s Death?
When Hetfield went to look at the scene of the crash, he made a chilling discovery. The driver claimed the bus slipped on a patch of black ice, but Hetfield couldn’t find any when he walked up and down the road where it had happened. Hetfield later revealed his disturbing suspicions about that night.
He said that he was sure that the driver was either inebriated or had fallen asleep at the wheel. But when the authorities investigated, they took the driver’s word and declined to press charges against him.
Princess Diana
Like Grace Kelly before her, Princess Diana’s life seemed like a fairy tale on the outside. But behind closed doors, it was more of a horror story. Finally, when Princess Di and Prince Charles’ separation finally turned into a divorce, it looked like she’d finally get a fresh start in life—and she did, but it ended all quickly.
John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Princess Diana’s Final Hours
The paparazzi had dogged Princess Diana for decades. That attention multiplied exponentially after the divorce, as she traveled more and appeared more in the public eye doing charity work. On the night of August 31, 1997, Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed were in a limo that was being chased by paparazzi through Paris.
The vehicle entered the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris—but never emerged on the other side. The driver lost control of the car and crashed into a pillar in the tunnel. She died at a nearby hospital soon after the crash.
Princess Diana Archive, Getty Images
James Dean
James Dean is often the first name that comes to mind when celebrities and car accidents are mentioned—likely because his presence and potential were so large, only for him to unfortunately embody the “Live fast, die young” stereotype. In 1955, Dean was Hollywood’s most promising actor, with star-turn roles in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden.
He was poised to transition from teen roles to adult ones when tragedy struck—but few know the chilling details of that day.
Warner Bros., Wikimedia Commons
James Dean’s Final Days
Dean had been interested in car racing for a while, and his paychecks from movies like East of Eden helped him indulge the hobby. In 1955, he traded in one of his cars for Porsche 550 Spyder and prepared to enter a race in Salinas, California. Dean and his team were on the way to the race—and going quite fast, having already gotten one speed ticket—when a local student pulled out onto the highway in front of him.
Dean was going too fast to slow down in time, so he swerved, hit the cars’ side, and then bounced across the highway. It’s unclear whether he died instantly or on the way to the hospital. He was 24 years old.
Chillingly, actor Alec Guinness met up with Dean just after he’d acquired the Spyder and reportedly told him, “If you get in that car, you will be found dead in it by this time next week”.
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