Anne Heche’s final autopsy revealed “no evidence of impairment” by illicit drugs at the time of her fiery and fatal car crash in August.
According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner’s report — which was obtained Tuesday by Page Six — the actress tested positive for benzoylecgonine, cocaine, fentanyl and cannabinoids. However, she was not high at the time of the accident.
The medical examiner explained to Page Six that benzoylecgonine is an inactive metabolite of cocaine, which indicates that she had used it in the past but not on the day of her accident. The same was said for the presence of cannabinoids (marijuana) found in her system.
As for the fentanyl that was detected, the report states that the narcotic was administered to Heche to help alleviate her pain after she had already been admitted to the hospital.
The medical examiner ruled that Heche’s death was accidental and caused by inhalation and thermal injuries, with a fracture to her sternum caused by blunt force trauma also contributing.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner determined that the actress was not high when she died.
Sternal fractures are often the result of a driver’s chest striking the steering wheel. Per the report, that type of injury made it “painful while breathing when she was in her vehicle.”
The medical examiner also estimated that Heche was trapped in her car for about 30 minutes before first responders were able to extricate her.
During that time, the actress’ car was charred and her clothes were almost entirely burned off as she suffered second-degree burns on 12 percent of her body, including to her the right side of her face/neck, right shoulder, left upper chest and her upper extremities.
On the afternoon of Aug. 5, the Emmy winner crashed her blue Mini Cooper into an LA home in the Mar Vista neighborhood, igniting a blaze.
According to eyewitnesses on the scene, Heche first slammed into the garage of a nearby apartment complex before backing up and speeding off.
She hit another vehicle before bulldozing into the house that caught fire.
Photos from the scene captured the actress being put on a stretcher and showed serious injuries to her back. Aerial shots documented smoke billowing out of the residence as well as numerous fire trucks surrounding the area.
Heche’s rep told Page Six at the time that she had suffered a severe anoxic brain injury, a significant pulmonary injury that required mechanical ventilation and burns that required surgical intervention. The actress slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness.
While law enforcement officials were investigating the accident as a potential felony DUI, reports surfaced claiming Heche was under the influence of cocaine at the time of the crash. That has now been dispelled.
The mother of two was declared brain dead on Aug. 12 and taken off life support on Aug. 15 after matching with an organ donor recipient. She was 53.
Heche, who famously dated Ellen DeGeneres, was trapped in her vehicle for about 30 minutes before first responders were able to extricate her.