Anne Heche Autopsy Reveals There Was ‘No Evidence of Impairment’ by Illicit Substances at Time of Car Crash

07.12.2022 - 08:23 / usmagazine.com

A vital update. Anne Heche’s final autopsy revealed that the actress was not impaired by drugs at the time of her fatal car crash on August 5. 

The Los Angeles County medical examiner and coroner’s report stated on Tuesday, December 6, that while the Men In Trees star tested positive for benzoylecgonine, she was not high at the time of the accident. (Benzoylecgonine is an inactive metabolite of cocaine, which indicates that she had used the drug in the past.)

The documents, which were obtained by Page Six, also stated that there were no traces of cannabinoids found in the Ohio native’s system. The presence of fentanyl, however, was detected, but the report claimed Heche was given the substance to alleviate her pain after she had already been admitted to the hospital.

Following her death, documents obtained by Us Weekly revealed that Heche died due to inhalation of smoke and thermal injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroneal. Her manner of death was listed as an accident, noting that a “sternal fracture due to blunt trauma” was another “significant condition” from the tragic crash.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Us on August 5 that a driver — who they initially did not identify — was allegedly speeding while traveling eastbound on Preston Way in Los Angeles. A blue Mini Cooper ran off the road when it entered the intersection of Preston and Walgrove and then collided with a house. 

The Mini Cooper was engulfed in flames and the driver received severe burns. One day after the incident, a rep for Heche told Us that the Volcano actress was “currently in stable condition,” adding, “Her family and friends ask for your thoughts and prayers and to respect her privacy during this difficult