Anne Heche Real Cause of Death Revealed: Blunt Force Trauma Only 'Accidental'
Anne Heche passed away on August 5. She ws just 53. The real cause of death is now revealed by the medical examiner-coroner.
The actress died due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
The medical examiner-coroner of Los Angeles County identified sternal fracture owing to physical trauma as not the main cause of death. Instead, it was only a contributing reason and an accidental one.
According to the National Institute of Health, female drivers are somewhat more likely to sustain sternal fractures when their chest hits the steering wheel.
Heche was certified brain dead on August 12 and removed from life support on August 15 after his organs were matched with a receiver.
"We have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed, but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work and her passionate advocacy," the actress' rep told us at the time.
"Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact," the representative added.
The Emmy-winning actress slammed her blue Mini Cooper into a home in the Mar Vista district of Los Angeles on August 5, starting a fire.
According to witnesses, the actress initially collided into the garage of a nearby apartment complex before reversing and fleeing at high speed.
The West Traffic Division of the Los Angeles Police Department earlier acknowledged that she collided with another vehicle before crashing into the burning home.
Photos from the incident depicted the actress being carried away on a stretcher with severe back injuries, while aerial photographs captured flames billowing from the home and multiple fire trucks around it.
According to Heche's representative, she sustained a serious anoxic brain injury, a significant lung injury necessitating mechanical ventilation, and burns necessitating surgical treatment. The actress fell into a coma from which she never awoke.
According to the LAPD, Heche was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the collision.
Heche is survived by her co-parented 20-year-old son Homer Laffoon and her 13-year-old son Atlas Heche Tupper with ex-boyfriend James Tupper.
