Anne Heche Is Dead Following Car Crash: Everything to Know About the Incident, Investigation, Aftermath

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Anne Heche Is Dead Following Car Crash: Everything to Know About the Incident, Investigation, Aftermath

Anne Heche died following a Los Angeles car crash that left her severely burned. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Us Weekly on August 5 that the driver — who they did not identify initially — was allegedly speeding while traveling eastbound on Preston Way in Los Angeles. A blue Mini Cooper ran off the road when it entered the intersection of Preston and Walgrove, then collided with a house. One woman, Lynne Mishele, was home, but she was in the backyard and was not seriously injured. The Mini Cooper was engulfed in flames and the driver received severe burns. One day after the incident, a rep for Heche told Us that the actress was "currently in stable condition," adding: “Her family and friends ask for your thoughts and prayers and to respect her privacy during this difficult time.” On August 8, however, a rep for the Dancing With the Stars alum confirmed that Heche had fallen into a coma following the incident. “At this time she is in extreme critical condition she has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention,” the representative told Us in a statement. “She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident.” [jwplayer hygHnJT0-zhNYySv2] After the crash, well wishes for the Ohio native poured in from her friends and former colleagues. “We became close friends and my heart breaks for her and her family over this terrible accident,” Keo Motsepe, who partnered with Heche on DWTS, told Entertainment Tonight. “I am praying she makes a full recovery and I know the entire DWTS family is sending her healing thoughts." James Tupper, who dated Heche from 2006 to 2018, asked fans for prayers in a statement shared via Instagram. “Thoughts and prayers for this lovely woman, actress and mother tonight anneheche 💔 we love you,” the Big Little Lies alum wrote on August 5. The Volcano actress and the Revenge alum shared son Atlas, who was born in March 2009. The Daytime Emmy Award winner also shared son Homer, born in March 2002, with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon. On August 11, it was announced that Heche would not wake up. “We want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers for Anne’s recovery and thank the dedicated staff and wonderful nurses that cared for Anne at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital,” a representative for Heche told Us Weekly in a statement made on behalf of her family and friends on Thursday, August 11. “Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive.” Heche officially died on August 12, one week after the crash. “Anne is legally dead according to California law,” a rep for Heche told Us at the time. “Her heart is still beating and she has not been taken off of life support. This is in order to allow OneLegacy Foundation enough time to find [organ donor] recipients who will be a match.” She was taken off life support on August 14 after organ recipients were selected. She was given an Honor Walk, a ceremony in which medical staff lines the halls leading to the operating room to thank the late patient for donating their organs. Everything to know about Heche's crash is below: [podcast_block]

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What Happened?

According to the LAPD, a blue Mini Cooper collided with a residence on the 1700 block of Walgrove in Los Angeles around 11 a.m. PT on August 5. The vehicle was engulfed in flames and the driver — who the LAPD did not identify until later — sustained severe burns. The Los Angeles Fire Department later confirmed on August 6 that the vehicle went 30 feet into the two-story home, which was deemed unsafe to enter after the fire was extinguished. The LAFD also noted that it took 59 firefighters over an hour to control the blaze. 

At the time of the crash, the LAFD said the driver was conscious and able to speak with firefighters before being taken to a trauma center. Initially, there were no reports of anyone but the driver being injured. 

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What Did the 911 Call Reveal?

Us obtained the audio of the 911 call on Tuesday, August 16, during which an eyewitness reported the incident and detailed the first moments after the crash. “[Someone is] trapped in the front door [of the car],” the man told the 911 operator. “Inside the car. Whoever was driving. Get somebody real quick.”

About halfway through the six-minute call, someone in the background began yelling that there was a fire. The 911 caller, who had picked up a hose in an attempt to help put out any flames, reported smelling smoke.

The ambulance and paramedics arrived approximately six minutes after the 911 call was placed.

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How Long Was Anne Heche Hospitalized Before Dying?

The Donnie Brasco actress was at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital for a week. A rep for Heche told Us on August 6, one day after the crash, that the actress was in stable condition. Two days later, however, the star's spokesperson said Heche was comatose and had not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident. By August 11, her representative confirmed that she was "not expected to survive." Heche died the following day.

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Was Anyone Else Injured?

Initial reports indicated that no one was injured in the incident except for the driver of the Mini Cooper. There was one woman in the home during the crash, but the LAFD said she was in the backyard at the time of the accident. On August 10, however, TMZ reported that a woman who was in the home claimed that she suffered cuts that required treatment.  

In an Instagram video shared on August 11, the woman — Lynne Mishele — said she is "still recovering" after the incident. "It's obviously been the most insane, traumatic time, confusing ... eventually I'll try to get back to everybody and try to read everybody's comments," she said. "Thank you everybody from the bottom of my heart. It's really, truly overwhelming. You guys really have impacted my life in a really profound way so thank you so much to everybody and I will keep you updated."

Mishele's neighbors also set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the expenses caused by the damage to her home and other belongings. As of August 13, the campaign had raised more than $160,000.  

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Was There an Investigation?

TMZ reported on August 8 that the LAPD obtained a warrant to test Heche's blood for the presence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the crash. Three days later, an LAPD spokesperson confirmed to Us that Heche is being investigated for felony DUI traffic collision. "The blood sample results showed there was a presence of narcotics," the spokesperson said on August 11. "However, additional testing is required to rule out any substance that was administered at the hospital." When asked about reports that Heche was under the influence of fentanyl at the time of the crash, the spokesperson responded: "It's unknown at this time what kind of narcotics until additional testing is completed."

However, after Heche's death, the investigation concluded. "As of today there will be no further investigative efforts made in this case," the LAPD said in a statement via NBC on Saturday, August 13. "Any information or records that have been requested prior to this turn of events will still be collected as they arrive as a matter of formalities and included in the overall case. When a person suspected of a crime expires, we do not present for filing consideration."

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Why Was Anne Heche Declared Dead While on Life Support?

Among her final wishes was to become an organ donor, so the actress remained on life support after being declared brain dead. Heche was being monitored to "determine" whether her organs were viable for donation, which has "long been her choice," the rep noted. "Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life's work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light."

Her rep later told Us that the life support helped her organs remain viable for donation while medical professionals determined who would receive her her donation. “Anne is legally dead according to California law,” a rep for Heche said at the time. “Her heart is still beating and she has not been taken off of life support. This is in order to allow OneLegacy Foundation enough time to find recipients who will be a match."

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When Did Anne Heche Die?

A rep for Heche confirmed that she was declared brain dead on August 12. According to California law, that means the actress officially died at the age of 53, even though her heart was still beating.

"Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend," a statement from her family said. "Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact."

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When Was Anne Heche Taken Off Life Support?

Her spokesperson confirmed that she'd be taken off life support on August 14. Heche's organs were harvested for donation and the hospital gave her an Honor Walk. Available medical staff quietly line the path to the operating room for such ceremonies, which pay tribute to the late patient for their life-saving donation. 

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Did Anne Heche Have a Will?

According to court documents obtained by Us, Heche died without a will. Her eldest son, Homer, requested to oversee her estate as his half brother, Atlas, is a minor.

“The Estate consists of two (2) intestate heirs—Homer Heche Laffoon and Atlas Heche Tupper. Homer Heche Laffoon is an adult and the proposed Administrator. Atlas Heche Tupper is a minor,” the docs read. “Filed concurrently with this petition is a Petition for Appointment of Guardian ad Litem for the minor, which specifically requests that the guardian ad litem be granted the authority to waive bond on behalf of the minor.”

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Harrowing New Details

In September 2022, records obtained by NBC4 revealed that Heche was trapped inside the burning home for 45 minutes before firefighters could rescue her. According to recordings from radio calls, it took at least 20 minutes to access the car and an additional 20 minutes to free her from the burning vehicle. “Given the heavy fire and smoke conditions, it wasn't that you could clearly see into the vehicle or clearly be able to access it,” Los Angeles Fire Department deputy chief Richard Fields told the outlet. “Heavy smoke conditions, heavy fire conditions, which makes it very difficult for us to just see each other on the inside of a working structure fire."