Actress Anne Heche has remained in critical condition since crashing her car into a Los Angeles-area home on Friday, August 5. Driving at high speed, the actress ran off the road, and her vehicle plowed into the residence of Lynne Mishele. The resulting blaze destroyed Mishele’s home, with the tenant herself almost being hit by the speeding car when it breached the house.
It took 59 firefighters to put the fire out. Heche, trapped inside the vehicle for 65 minutes, suffered severe burns and an anoxic brain injury from the lack of oxygen. On August 10, reports revealed that the actress was in a coma with pulmonary injuries requiring her to be on a ventilator. On the night of August 11, her publicist released a statement that the actress was not expected to survive.
First responders immediately transported Heche from the accident scene to the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills, CA. The extent of her burns would require surgery and extensive healing time if she did survive. Sadly, this is not the prognosis as she is listed in “extremely critical condition.” Heche slipped into a coma shortly after the accident.
An organ donor, Heche, is being kept on life support to determine if any organs are viable after the traumatic accident. Plans for their donation are underway if this is an option.
Anne Heche’s representatives have thanked those who have sent “kind wishes and prayers” for the actress’s recovery. They also expressed gratitude to the staff caring for Heche at the Grossman Burn Center. Those close to her have shared support on social media, including her former partner James Tupper with whom Heche shares a 13-year-old son. Her ex-boyfriend Thomas Jane called the performer a “true talent” of her generation.
Anne Heche played the role of twins on the daytime soap opera “Another World” from 1987 to 1991. Her performance in this show won her an Emmy Award. Her film work includes titles like “Donnie Brasco” and “Six Days Seven Nights.” In recent years, Heche returned to television, starring in “The Brave” and “Chicago P.D.”
On Monday, August 8, an LAPD officer confirmed that the accident was under investigation as a DUI. Investigators drew blood from Heche on the day of the crash, which identified narcotics in her system. At the time of writing, it is unclear whether or not the substances were administered by medical personnel.