November 11, 2024 | Samantha Henman

Stars Who Lost Their Lives In Car Crashes


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. 

Cc Msn

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.

Jayne MansfieldComet Photo AG, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Jayne MansfieldLennart 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.

Jayne Mansfield 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.

Grace KellyPierre Tourigny, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Grace KellyHowell 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.

Randy Savage 1988David 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.

Wwf Champion Randy Savage RunningJohn McKeon, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Paul WalkerAndre 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.

Paul Walker (L) and Vin DiesaelRalph Orlowski, Getty Images

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.

Ryan Dunn 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.

Ryan DunnAndres Pérez, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Janet GaynorCINELANDIA 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.

Janet Gaynor Lionel Barrymore Fox Films, Wikimedia Commons

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.

Portrait Photo of Duane Allman performing on stage.Ed Berman, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Allman Brothers Band 1969Unknown 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.

Anne HecheMingle 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.  

James Tupper & Anne Heche MingleMediaTVNetwork, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Bob SimonRobin Marchant, Getty Images

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 Steve Granitz, Getty Images

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.

Lisa HECTOR MATA, Getty Images

Advertisement

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.

Film Director Bob Clark for story on the DVD re-release of Porky's and Black Christmas.David Cooper, Getty Images

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.

Launch of Ron Galella, Getty Images

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…

George S PattonKeystone Paris, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

George S. Patton 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.

Bessie SmithCarl 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.    

Bessie Smith (1936) Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Jackson PollockSmithsonian 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.

Jackson Pollock at work on american postage stamp - 2017spatuletail, Shutterstock

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.

Brandon De Wilde 1963New York Sunday News, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Man Of His House Alcoa TheatreArthur 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.

Dale EarnhardtDarryl 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.

Dale EarnhardtDarryl Moran, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Photo of Cliff BURTON and METALLICAKrasner/Trebitz, Getty Images

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.

Metallica 1983Megaforce 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.

image of Cliff BurtonIcon and Image, Getty Images

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.

Diana, Princess of Wales 1997John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

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.

Diana, Princess of Wales visits the headquarters of the charity Help the Aged in London, 19th January 1989.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.

James Dean 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”.

James Dean In Rebel Without A Cause Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons


READ MORE

Nightmare before christmas internal
December 3, 2024 Em Groleau

Hair-Raising Facts About The Nightmare Before Christmas

In the extended ending of the Nightmare Before Christmas, Santa Claus visits Jack sometime in the future and makes an incredible discovery that changes the future for Jack.
Celebrity Scandals Facts
December 3, 2024 Scott Mazza

Dramatic Facts About Little-Known Celebrity Scandals

Michael Caine was devastated by the death of his mother—yet in the weeks after this tragic loss, Caine’s grief transformed into a profound sense of betrayal.
December 3, 2024 Byron Fast

Tragic Facts About Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, The Doomed Rascal

Authorities claimed Carl Switzer's violent end was a simple matter of self-defense—but they didn't know the dark truth about that day.
Louise Brooks Facts
December 3, 2024 Scott Mazza

Tragic Facts About Louise Brooks, Hollywood's Lost Starlet

Louise Brooks had many lovers throughout the 20s and 30s. One of her more noteworthy partners was Pepi Lederer. When word got out about their scandalous affair, Pepi was committed to a mental hospital—but then it got so much worse.