Actress Anne Heche not expected to survive crash, family says
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Emmy Award-winning actress Anne Heche suffered an “anoxic” brain injury after crashing a car into a home in Los Angeles last week and is not expected to survive, according to her family.
“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,” Holly Baird, a representative for the 53-year-old actress’ family said in a statement Thursday night. “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.”
Anoxic injuries occur when the brain is cut off from oxygen, causing cell death, according to NBC News.
According to KCBS-TV, a blue 2020 Mini Cooper owned by the “Another World” soap opera star was traveling at a high rate of speed when it went off the road at a T intersection and slammed into a two-story Mar Vista home on Aug. 5, setting the vehicle on fire.
The accident occurred at about 11 a.m. PDT, Los Angeles police Officer Tony Im told The Associated Press.
Heche’s vehicle stopped inside the home and started a fire that took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to fully contain and extinguish, the Los Angeles Times reported. According to KTTV, Heche was alone in the car at the time of the crash and was pulled out of the car by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The homeowner, who was in the backyard when the crash occurred, was not injured, according to KNBC-TV.
Heche was still on life support as of late Thursday, People and KCBS reported. According to Baird, it “has long been her choice to donate her organs” and doctors are determining “if any are viable.”
“Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit,” Baird said. “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.”
Earlier Thursday, police in Los Angeles said that Heche was being investigated for felony driving under the influence, KABC reported.
Police said Heche had drugs in her system at the time of the crash, NBC News reported.
“In preliminary testing, the blood draw revealed the presence of drugs,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.
Police could not “comment right now on the presence of cocaine, fentanyl or alcohol at this time,” department officials added. “That will be determined by the second test.”
Heche is known for her roles as Vicky Hudson and Marley Love in “Another World” and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991, the Times reported.
Her film credits include roles in “Donnie Brasco,” “Six Days Seven Nights” and “Return to Paradise,” according to IMDB.com.
She also appeared in the television series “All Rise” and “Chicago P.D.,” according to the Times.
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)