Anne Heche’s death has been officially ruled an accident after she died from her burns after plowing into a house at 90mph.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled Wednesday that the actress died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.
The office also said the 53-year-old man suffered a “sternal fracture due to blunt force trauma” in the August 5 terror collapse.
Fractures of the sternum are most commonly found in patients who hit the chest with the steering wheel in traffic accidents.
Heche also suffered a “severe anoxic brain injury” caused by a lack of oxygen, according to a statement released last week on behalf of his family and friends.
A full autopsy report is still being completed, the coroner’s office said.
Heche’s life support machine was switched off on Sunday after he suffered horrific burns in the collision in his Mini Clubman.
She was pronounced legally dead on August 12 after being in a coma for a week before being taken off life support two days later. He was kept on life support until his organs could be donated.
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A photo before the Aug. 5 crash shows Heche moments before the second crash behind the wheel with a bottle of vodka in the cup holder
The actress was taken to an ambulance on the day of the accident
Heche can be seen being removed from the scene on a stretcher and taken to a waiting ambulance
A Los Angeles police spokesman said the department was continuing to investigate whether drug use contributed to the crash.
Blood tests showed the actress had cocaine and fentanyl in her system at the time of the high-speed crash on August 5, but officials confirmed she had not consumed alcohol, despite being photographed with a bottle of vodka in the cup holder.
A new 911 call also revealed that the neighbors were initially unaware that Heche was trapped in the car inside the property.
The caller told authorities that “a car just drove by my neighbor’s house” and went into the “second room” and that no one was in the car, 911 call records, obtained by Fox Newssaid
When asked if the car was inside the house, the caller told the dispatcher there was “10 feet” inside and moments later the car caught fire with Heche inside.
Seconds later, it was revealed that Heche was indeed inside the car. The caller told dispatchers, “Someone is trapped in the car. It’s a big fire.
A dispatcher told the caller to “try to get the driver out of the car if we can,” but advised them to stay safe.
The 53-year-old suffered horrific burns in the collision and was filmed being dragged from the mangled wreckage by firefighters after it burst into flames in Los Angeles at around 11am.
An interior photograph shows that the Mini Clubman’s airbag had exploded and most of the decoration was burnt after the crash.
Firefighters were seen at the scene next to the burnt car
The actress lost control of her car when she drove into a house and started a fire that severely burned her, leaving her in “extremely critical condition,” her rep said.
It reportedly took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to “access, contain and fully extinguish the stubborn flames” that were sparked by Heche’s crash.
A man can be heard telling emergency services to be “very quick” after they realized someone was trapped and went to get a hose to try and help.
They said, “There’s smoke, I didn’t see any flames, someone just said get water.” There is a fire, the house. I don’t see flames but there is a lot of smoke. big fire
Last week, newly released footage showed the moments before the crash in which Heche nearly mowed down a woman.
He was recorded speeding down an alley and narrowly missing the pedestrian as he walked along the sidewalk in the Mar Vista area of the city.
The woman, who has not been identified, swerved in a daze as the blue Mini Clubman drove past Friday shortly before 11am.
It comes as police experts revealed that Heche, who was intubated with horrific burns after the horrific crash, will be investigated over the 90mph impact.
A photo taken by a witness before the crash showed her in her blue Mini Clubman with a red-top bottle with glass eyes.
Tributes poured in after the star was taken off life support, including from her own management team, who wrote: Today we lost a bright light, a kind and joyful soul, a loving mother and a loyal friend. Anne will be greatly missed, but lives on through her beautiful children, her iconic work and her passionate advocacy.”
Her 2-year-old son Homer also said she had gone through “incredible emotional changes” and was left in “deep, speechless sadness,” according to People.
“Hopefully my mom will be pain free and begin to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom,” he told People.
The actress also leaves behind a 13-year-old son Atlas, who she shares with ex James Tupper.
The actress leaves behind two sons, 13-year-old Atlas (left) and 20-year-old Homer (right). His eldest said he was left in “deep, speechless sadness” after her death
Homer’s father Laffoon posted an emotional tribute to the actress on Saturday, the day after Heche was announced brain dead.
In the video, posted on his Instagram, Laffoon said: “After Anne’s death, I just wanted to say a few things: One, I love her and I miss her, and I always will. Two, Homer is doing well.
“He’s grieving, of course, and it’s hard, it’s really hard, as anyone can probably imagine,” Laffoon continued. “But he’s surrounded by family and he’ll be fine.”
“So, for all those people who check in, thank you for checking us in, showing us your heart, offering prayers and everything. It’s so beautiful. Thank you.’
Former co-star Robert DeNiro told People, “I’m so sad to hear of Anne Heche’s tragic death. She was a wonderful actress and I really enjoyed working with her on Wag the Dog. Sad! Sad! Sad!’
