Anne Heche In A Coma And Has Not Regained Consciousness Since Car Crash

Anne Heche is in a "critical condition" in hospital and has "not regained consciousness" following an horrific car crash.

The 53-year-old Donnie Brasco actress is in a coma following a fiery smash in Los Angeles late last week, and, according to her representaive, she  has been left with burns that need "surgical intervention", her representative said. 

The rep told People: "She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention.

"She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident."

Earlier this week, the star was said to be in a "stable condition" in hospital after crashing into a house in the neighbourhood of Mar Vista at high speed on Friday (Aug 5).

Local residents have been sharing their accounts of what happened, and one has recalled Anne told passers-by she "wasn't doing real well" following the collision.

Lynne Bernstein, who lives in nearby Venice with wife Natalie, told how he and neighbours Dave and Gabriel were able to talk to the Volcano star after she drove "almost all the way through" a house and her car "almost immediately" caught fire.

Dave was able to get into the back of the car to speak with the driver.

Bernstein said: "She responded that she wasn't doing real well.

"He actually talked to her briefly. Yeah, he asked her to raise her hand or something ... if she was okay and she said she couldn't."

The group tried their best to free Heche from her vehicle and Lynne thinks if they had been able to do so before the fire brigade arrives "maybe she wouldn't be suffering the way she is now."

Noting that Gabriel tried to put out the fire while Dave tried to get Heche out, Bernstein said: "We were having a hard time seeing and breathing.

"[Dave was] overcome by the smoke. So, he went to the back of the house to see if there was an alternative route, maybe we could get to her from the front of the vehicle. But the smoke, even on the backyard was pretty darn intense."

Variety reported that before the accident, Heche was expected to turn up at the Television Critics Association press tour to promote her role in Lifetime's opiod crime drama Girl in Room 13.

Acording to The Los Angeles Times, Heche — who made headlines in the 1990s for her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres after the latter came out as a lesbian — is now under investigation by the LAPD, and authorities have obtained a warrant for her blood drawn at the hospital to see whether she was intoxicated. —  BANG SHOWBIZ

Photo: TPG News/Click Photos