(Republicaninformer.com)- Recently released autopsy reports contradict former reports that suggest actress Anne Heche was on drugs during her ill-fated crash when she crashed her Mini Cooper into a Los Angeles home on August 5, according to The Daily Caller.
The Los Angeles County Department Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office released the report stating that Heche died of “inhalation and thermal injuries.” She also reportedly suffered a fracture to her sternum, which was caused by blunt force as a result of the crash. The report stated that her injury was expected to be painful while breathing when she was in her vehicle,” and “significantly contributed” to her death, according to The New York Post.
While her death was ruled an accident, the report noted that initial tests on Heche’s urine found cocaine, cannabinoids, and fentanyl. But it also noted that the actress was given fentanyl in the hospital before the crash.
Blood tests revealed that Heche had benzoylecgonine, a toxic metabolite that follows cocaine use. But the coroner claimed that “there was no evidence of impairment by illicit substances at the time of the crash.”
Images from the crash show firefighters trying to put out the fire that engulfed a part of the house where Heche crashed into. Heche reportedly suffered second-degree burns and 40% of her body suffered first-degree burns. Soot was found in her mouth and nostrils.
After the crash, Heche was rushed to the hospital and later transferred to Grossman Burn Center in West Hills, California where she was placed on a breathing machine. But she was ultimately pronounced brain-dead on August 11.
The autopsy report says that her organs and tissue were donated.
Emergency services radio records show that firefighters responded to the scene within five minutes of the crash, but paramedics initially treated a woman found inside of the home injured, leaving Heche to potentially die from smoke inhalation while she was trapped inside of the car for 30 minutes.
