Anne Heche in ‘extremely critical condition,’ in coma
(NewsNation) — Actor Anne Heche, 53, is in “extremely critical condition” and in a coma after crashing her car into a Los Angeles home last week, Deadline reported Monday.
“At this time, Anne is in extremely critical condition. She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention,” a representative said in a statement. “She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident.”
On Sunday, Heche’s publicist had released an initial statement that was positive, listing her as being “in stable condition” while asking for thoughts and prayers and to respect her family’s privacy.
The crash caused Heche’s car and a home in Mar Vista to catch fire, multiple news outlets reported. It took 59 firefighters a little more than an hour to contain the fire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. No one inside the house was hurt.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said on Monday the cause and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.
Law enforcement officials confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that Heche was the registered owner of the vehicle, though they did not identify her as the driver.
TMZ was the first to report the news of the crash. Witnesses told TMZ that before she crashed into the house, Heche had crashed into the garage of an apartment complex. Residents of the complex tried getting her out of the vehicle but Heche drove away, and crashed into the home shortly after.
No other injuries were reported in the crash. Police tested Heche’s blood for drugs and alcohol, but those results aren’t back yet.
Heche, according to the LA Times, is best known for her roles in the soap opera “Another World,” for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991. Films she has appeared in include “Donnie Brasco,” “Six Days Seven Nights” and “Return to Paradise.”
One Venice Beach salon owner, Richard Glass, recounted a visit by Heche to his shop shortly before the accident to the Los Angeles Times, describing her as “a sweet little girl” as she purchased a red wig on Friday morning.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.