US actress Anne Heche is not expected to survive horror car crash, family say

Preliminary blood tests showed 'sings of narcotics', police said

Anne Heche is not expected to survive, her family has said, as authorities on Friday revealed that preliminary tests had shown "signs of narcotics" in the  US actress's system. Heche's family issued a statement on Thursday saying the 53-year-old was being temporarily kept on life support. "Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive," the statement read. "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 statement added: "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." Heche crashed her car into a two-storey home in Los Angeles last week. Police said on Friday that preliminary blood tests had revealed the presence of drugs in her system - but extra testing was needed to eliminate any substances given to her in hospital. The Los Angeles Police Department told PA news agency the incident was being investigated as a felony driving-under-the-influence traffic collision. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Heche was found to be under the influence of cocaine at the time of the crash. Fentanyl was also found in her blood, but the strong opioid is sometimes used as a painkiller in hospital and so may have been administered as part of her treatment. Heche featured in films including Donnie Brasco, Cedar Rapids and the 1998 Psycho remake and also appeared on Dancing with the Stars in the US. She is also the former partner of US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. According to the LA Fire Department, Heche's vehicle "erupted in heavy fire" after it was driven 30ft (9.1m) into a two-storey home, leaving the property "uninhabitable". Heche is being looked after at Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital.

Related links

• Armie Hammer 'totally broke' and selling timeshares in Cayman Islands, report claims
• Olivia Newton-John ‘really struggled’ in the week before her death, niece says
• Ezra Miller charged following incident at house in Vermont