According to a statement released by Anne Heche’s family and friends and shared with CNN by their attorney, one week after a catastrophic vehicle accident, the actress is “brain dead” yet she is still being kept alive by life support.
“We have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend. Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact,” the statement made by the family read.
According to the representative, Heche has not yet had her life support turned off; as a result, they still have time to determine whether or not she is an appropriate donor.
As a result of the accident, which deprived Heche’s brain of oxygen, the family’s representative stated that Heche sustained significant anoxic brain injury as a direct result of the incident.
On Friday, Heche was reportedly a passenger in a vehicle that ran off the road and crashed into a house, which then caught fire, as reported by the Public Information Officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, Jeff Lee.
Lee claims that a woman who was inside the residence at the time of the tragedy sustained some minor injuries and went to the hospital.