Police investigating Anne Heche for driving under influence of drugs after car crash

The Hollywood actress has been in a coma since the incident

Anne Heche at the 74th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills on March 12, 2022. The Hollywood actress was in a fiery car crash in Los Angeles in August. Reuters

Anne Heche at the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg Reception at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in 2018. Getty Images

The actress at the premiere of the HBO television series 'Big Little Lies' in Los Angeles in 2017. Reuters

Canadian actor James Tupper, left, Anne Heche, right, and son Atlas Heche Tupper at the premiere of 'Mr Popper's Penguins' in 2011. EPA

A pregnant Heche at the premiere of the movie 'Spread' in 2009. EPA

From left, Anne Heche, Hugh Jackman and Donna Murphy pose for photographers during the the Tony Award Nominee class picture at the Minskoff Theatre in New York in 2004. EPA

Alec Baldwin and Heche at the American Theatre Wing Gala annual Luncheon in 2004. Reuters

The cast of the new film 'John Q', from left, Anne Heche, Kimberly Elise, Denzel Washington, young Daniel Smith and James Woods, at the film's premiere in 2002 in Los Angeles. Reuters

Hugh Grant and Anne Heche attend the Warner Brothers/ 'InStyle' party after the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2001. Reuters

Anne Heche and Robert Downey Jr at the premiere of 'Snatch' at the Directors Guild, Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

Anne Heche, right, directing Sharon Stone, left, and Ellen Degeneres on the set of 'If These Walls Could Talk'. Getty Images

Ed Harris as Father Frank Shore and Anne Heche as Roxanna in the 2000 film 'The Third Miracle'. Getty Images

Anne Heche in the 1998 remake of 'Pyscho'. Getty Images

Director Gus Van Sant, left, Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at the premiere of 'Return To Paradise' in October 1998. Getty Images

Harrison Ford, left, and Anne Heche in the 1998 film '6 Days,7 Nights'. Getty Images

From left, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche and Robert De Niro on the set of 'Wag The Dog' in 1998. Getty Images

Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche in 1997 film 'Volcano'. Getty Images

Police say preliminary blood tests have revealed the presence of drugs in Anne Heche's system after the US actress was involved in a fiery car crash that has left her in a coma.

The Los Angeles Police Department said additional testing was required to rule out any substances that were administered in the hospital.

LAPD spokesman Matthew Cruz also confirmed that the incident was being investigated as a felony driving-under-the-influence traffic collision.

Heche, 53, was taken to hospital after the crash on Friday morning in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles and remains in critical condition, after her car was "engulfed in flames".

She is the former partner of US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres — the pair began dating in 1997 before separating in 2000 — and is known for films including Donnie Brasco, Cedar Rapids and the 1998 Psycho remake.

On Thursday, the LAPD confirmed an investigation into the incident in under way.

"On August 5, 2022 at around 10.55am a vehicle driven by Anne Heche collided with a residence in the 1700 block of Walgrove Avenue," the report stated.

"Heche sustained significant injuries, was rendered medical attention by the Los Angeles Fire Department and subsequently transported to a local hospital where she is still receiving medical attention.

"As part of an investigative process, West Traffic Detectives composed a search warrant for a blood sample from Heche, which is common practice for a case of this manner."

The release said: "This case is still an active and ongoing investigation and is currently in the process of gathering additional evidence; to include final toxicology results, and medical records from both parties involved.

"It is the intent of the investigating Detectives to present this case to the appropriate prosecuting office: the Los Angeles County District Attorney or the Los Angeles City Attorney's office once all pertinent evidence has been gathered."

Cruz said that preliminary blood tests "did show signs of narcotics".

Pictures and video footage obtained by US media outlet TMZ following the incident showed Heche driving a blue Mini Cooper, which was later pictured severely damaged at the scene.

The vehicle struck a two-storey home and "erupted in heavy fire", according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

It took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to access, confine and fully extinguish the stubborn flames within the heavily damaged structure, according to an LAFD report.

Heche sustained a "significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation" and "burns that require surgical intervention", a spokeswoman for the actress confirmed.