Actress Anne Heche was not high on drugs at the time she fatally crashed her Mini Cooper into a Los Angeles home on Aug. 5th, according to recently released autopsy results that contradicted previous reports.
The Los Angeles County Department Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office released an autopsy report Tuesday revealing that Heche died of “inhalation and thermal injuries.” She also suffered a fracture of her sternum which was confirmed to have been caused by blunt force trauma during the crash, according to the New York Post.
Initial blood tests indicated that benzoylecgonine, a toxic metabolite that occurs after cocaine use, was present in Heche’s system, but the coroner later concluded that there was “no evidence of impairment by illicit substances at the time of the crash,” according to the New York Post.
Anne Heche’s Autopsy Confirms ‘No Evidence of Impairment by Illicit Substances’ at Time of Crash https://t.co/Ahs5ZvqPvk
— People (@people) December 7, 2022
The “Donnie Brasco” and “Volcano” actress suffered second second degree burns to 12% of her body and first degree burns to 40% of her body, and the coroner found soot in her nostrils and mouth, according to the Post. (RELATED: REPORT: Anne Heche’s Ex Goes After Her Estate For $150,000)
Anne Heche had cocaine in her system at the time of the car crash that eventually took her life … according to the actress’ final autopsy and toxicology report. https://t.co/LuvKPsauNy
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 6, 2022
Heche was rushed to a nearby hospital and later transferred to the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills, California. Doctors performed skin grafts on her neck, torso and extremities and placed her on a breathing machine. Heche died Aug. 11, and her organs and tissue were donated, according to the Post.