‘There really are just no words’: Victim of Heche crash opens up after accident changed her life

While the world mourns the death of Anne Heche, another victim of the fiery accident now faces the challenge of rebuilding her life.

Lynne Mishele’s house was ploughed into by actress Anne Heche. Picture: GoFundMe

While the world mourns the death of Anne Heche, another victim of the accident now faces the challenge of rebuilding her life after the crash sent her livelihood up in flames.

The resident who lived in the house that the American actress’ car ploughed into has spoken out as new pictures reveal the tragic aftermath of the fatal accident.

Lynne Mishele, small business owner of decluttering service Creative Organisation, narrowly escaped death after Heche crashed into her Walgrove Ave home in Los Angeles last week.

The ex-girlfriend of comedian Ellen DeGeneres was seen speeding along the street in her Mini Clubman, before she lost control and collided with the home.

The impact of the accident sent Ms Mishele’s entire house alight with reports suggesting 59 firefighters took 65 minutes to extinguish the flames.

The wreckage of Anne Heche’s car. Picture: GoFundMe

Ms Mishele was lucky enough to escape the blaze with her two dogs Bree and Rueban, and tortoise Marley. However the rest of her belongings, including equipment for her business were unrecoverable.

Meanwhile Heche sustained life-threatening injuries and according to California law, was declared legally dead on Friday afternoon with her body now being prepared for organ donation.

Police later confirmed Heche tested positive for cocaine and possibly fentanyl, however testing is expected to continue as authorities are unsure if the latter drug was administered at the hospital.

Pictures taken by Ms Mishele and her landlord Jennifer Durand and partner John, reveal the carnage caused by the collision with the home and contents reduced to rubble and ash.

The home is almost unrecognisable, while half of Heche’s car is seen crushed by brick and debris.

Ms Mishele’s landlords and neighbours have since set up a GoFundMe page to help the “kind and generous” woman get back on her feet.

“Lynne and her family very narrowly escaped physical harm, and for that we are very grateful,” the landlords said.

“The home, however, was completely burned … and immediately red-tagged by the LAFD, necessitating that Lynne leave the place she rents and loves.”

Photos reveal the carnage. Picture: GoFundMe

The post states firefighters were able to recover some sentimental items from the wreckage, but not enough for Ms Mishele to live on.

“Lynne lost her entire lifetime of possessions, mementos, all equipment for her business including her laptop and iPad, all of her clothing and basic necessities, and all household items,” they said.

But despite the significant impact the accident has had on her own life, Ms Mishele has paid tribute to Heche in a video to her Instagram.

“The news of Anne Heche passing is devastating. Her family and her friends and her children especially really have suffered a great loss and my heart goes out for them,” Ms Mishele said.

“This entire situation is tragic and there really are just no words. I am sending love to everyone involved.”

So far more than $US167,000 ($234,000) has been donated by more than 4000 people willing to help Ms Mishele get her life back on track, with donations coming from as far as Western Australia.

The small business owner says she is overwhelmed by the support, and took to Instagram last week to thank her supporters.

“I did want to send a huge, huge thank you to everybody from all over the world for the overwhelming amount of love and compassion and generosity and kindness that people have shown over the past week,” she said in a video.

“It’s obviously been the most insane, traumatic time, confusing, so eventually I will try to get back to everybody and read everybody‘s comments, but thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The post also features her dogs and tortoise who she is grateful for having survived the accident.

Lynne Mishele says the support has been ‘overwhelming’. Picture: GoFundMe

Ms Mishele’s landlords describe their tenant as someone always willing to put others before herself.

Prior to launching her small business which specialises in “simplify(ing) everything”, Ms Mishele was a travel director at Citigroup and a marketing associate for Sony Pictures.

She now posts how-to organisational videos to her Instagram and shares tips and tricks on how to store items and declutter.

“A kind and generous person, Lynne is always first to offer help to others. Today we are asking the community to come together and help Lynne start over,” her landlords said.

“You can also help support Lynne getting back on her feet by visiting her Instagram and TikTok business pages @creativeorganization.”

Ms Mishele said she will continue to update her supporters by posting videos to her social media accounts.

Originally published as ‘There really are just no words’: Victim of Heche crash opens up after accident changed her life