Anne Heche died of smoke inhalation and the thermal injuries she sustained in her Aug. 5 car crash.
The LA County medical examiner-coroner listed sternal fracture due to blunt trauma as a contributing factor to her death, which was ruled accidental.
According to the National Institute of Health, sternal fractures result from a person’s chest striking the steering wheel, with a slightly higher prevalence in females drivers.
Heche was declared brain dead on Aug. 12 and taken off life support on Aug. 15.
“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,” the actress’ rep told us at the time.
“Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”
Heche was kept on life support to keep her heart beating so that One Legacy could determine whether she was a match for organ donation.
The “Men in Trees” actress crashed her car into a Los Angeles home on Aug. 5 in the Mar Vista neighborhood.
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