Anne Heche is “not expected to survive” after suffering brain damage during a horrific car crash, her publicist told Yahoo Entertainment in a statement late Thursday.
“Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition,” read the statement, sent on behalf of the actress’s family. “She is not expected to survive.”
Heche, 53, crashed her blue Mini Cooper into a home in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles on Aug. 5, causing both the vehicle and residence to go up in flames. She never regained consciousness after being rushed to the hospital in critical condition and has remained on a ventilator ever since.
“It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she is being kept on life support to determine if any are viable,” the family statement continued.
The family thanked friends and fans “for their kind wishes and prayers” as well as “the dedicated staff and wonderful nurses that cared for Anne at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital.
The statement concluded: “Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. 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.”
The tragic news came hours after the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Heche is being investigated for a felony DUI traffic collision. Police obtained a warrant for a blood sample which revealed narcotics were in her system.
The Los Angeles Times reported the Hung star was under the influence of cocaine during the crash. A spokesperson for the LAPD wouldn’t comment on that specifically, but told Yahoo early results showed the presence of narcotics; however, additional testing is required to rule out what was given to her medically.
Heche’s vehicle crashed into a two-story house around 10:55 a.m. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it took 59 firefighters 65 minutes “to access, confine and fully extinguish the stubborn flames within the heavily damaged structure, and rescue one female adult found within the vehicle.” Lynne Mishele, whose home was destroyed when it went up in flames in the crash, suffered minor injuries. Neighbors started a GoFundMe to help her replace “an entire lifetime of possessions, mementos, all equipment for her business…, all of her clothing and basic necessities.”
MORE: Anne Heche in coma after car crash, rep says she is in ‘extreme critical condition’
