Anne Heche was not impaired at time of deadly crash, autopsy reveals
ByLauren Silver, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Anne Heche autopsy report released File photo: Anne Heche attends the 27th Annual Race To Erase MS: Drive-In To Erase MS at Rose Bowl on September 04, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS) (Rich Fury/Getty Images for Race to Erase M)
ByLauren Silver, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES — A report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner indicates that actress Anne Heche was sober when she crashed into a west Los Angeles home in August.
A report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner shared with the Los Angeles Times said that Heche was not impaired by alcohol or any other substance at the time of her death.
Heche died on Aug. 11, one week after the crash that left her trapped in her burning vehicle for nearly an hour. Audio from the Los Angeles Fire Department shared with KNBC revealed firefighters were unable to access Heche’s 2020 Mini Cooper for at least 20 minutes. It took an additional 20 minutes to pull it out of the burning building.
Blood drawn from Heche while she was in the emergency room tested positive for an inactive cocaine metabolite, which means she likely used the drug in the days preceding her death, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Additional toxicology sampling at the hospital tested positive for evidence of cannabinoids and benzodiazepine, but did not appear in the blood sample, the Los Angeles Times reported. Fentanyl was also present in sampling but was consistent with pain medication being given in the hospital.
“There was no evidence of impairment by illicit substances at the time of the crash,” Sarah Ardalani, a spokesperson for the coroner’s office, said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
The LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner officially listed Heche’s death as accidental and caused by inhalation and thermal injuries. The report also notes “sternal fracture due to blunt trauma.”
Surveillance video obtained by KNBC appeared to show Heche’s vehicle speeding down a street just before the crash.
A woman who was in the house hit in the crash has sued Heche’s estate, asking for at least $2 million, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Heche played twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love on the soap opera “Another World” from 1987-1991, and won a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance, KNBC reported. Heche went on to play more than 100 other roles, including parts in “Wag the Dog,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Girl in Room 13.”
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Photos: Anne Heche through the years Here are some photos of actress Anne Heche through the years. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2001: Actress Anne Heche poses with her husband, director Coley Laffoon, on their wedding day September 1, 2001, In Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2002: Edie Falco and Anne Heche arrive at the 56th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 2, 2002. (Scott Gries/ImageDirect via Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2003: Actress Anne Heche attends the "Life's Not Still: Adolescence & Adolescents" Benefit & Exhibit sponsored by the Huck Fund at the Gallery of Functional Art on June 7, 2003, in Santa Monica, California. (Robert Mora/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2004: Actress Anne Heche attends the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 19, 2004, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2005: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the 2005 Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on September 11, 2005, in Los Angeles. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2006: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the Disney - ABC Television Group All Star Party at the Wisteria Courtyard at Kidspace Children's Museum on July 19, 2006, in Pasadena, California. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2007: Actress Anne Heche attends the 61st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2007, in New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2008: Actors Anne Heche (left) and James Tupper attend the 15th annual Race to Erase MS event at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on May 2, 2008, in Los Angeles. (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2009: Actors James Tupper and Anne Heche with son arrive for the Cirque Du Solei Opening Night Gala For Kooza at the Santa Monica Pier on October 16, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2010: Actors Anne Heche and actor Thomas Jane arrive at HBO's "Hung" Season 2 premiere at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios lot on June 23, 2010, in Hollywood, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2011: Actress Anne Heche (right) and James Tupper arrive at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 26, 2011, in Santa Monica, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2012: Actors Anne Heche (left) and James Tupper arrive at the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party held at West Hollywood Park on February 26, 2012, in West Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2013: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the Hollywood Reporter's Emmy Party at Soho House on September 19, 2013, in West Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2014: Actress Anne Heche attends the 2014 BAFTA Los Angeles TV Tea presented by BBC America and Jaguar at SLS Hotel on August 23, 2014, in Beverly Hills, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2015: Actress Anne Heche attends the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 21, 2015, in Santa Monica, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2016: Actors James Tupper (left) and Anne Heche attend HBO's Official 2016 Emmy After Party at the Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 18, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2017: Sean Hayes and Anne Heche attend the Entertainment Weekly and People Upfronts party presented by Netflix and Terra Chips at Second Floor on May 15, 2017, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly and People)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2018: Anne Heche attends the 25th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 20, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2019: Actress Anne Heche attends the red carpet for the "Twentieth Century" Benefit Concert Reading at Studio 54 on April 29, 2019, in New York City. (Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2020: Anne Heche attends the 28th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 9, 2020, in West Hollywood, California. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2021: Anne Heche attends the 2021 Breeders' Cup VIP Event at Del Mar Race Track on November 6, 2021, in Del Mar, California. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2022: Anne Heche and Ami Goodheart attend the 24th Costume Designers Guild Awards at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on March 9, 2022, in Santa Monica, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for CDGA)
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