It was big news when actress Anne Heche reportedly crashed her car , resulting in severe burns and injuries that have left her in a coma . While it remains unclear whether or what legal consequences Heche will face should she recover from her injuries, police are investigating the possibility the actress was intoxicated.
The headlines have largely focused on Heche’s condition — the owner and the tenant of the home she slammed her car into have been somewhat forgotten in the drama. However, that doesn’t mean that good people of the world haven’t taken notice.
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Lynne Mishele wasn’t hurt in the crash, but she did lose everything.
Mishele, her two dogs, and her tortoise, were able to escape after the crash, but the ensuing fire claimed the house and everything in it. According to the LAFD , it took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to extinguish the blaze.
A neighbor who witnessed the incident called Mishele “extremely fortunate” to have survived.
Lynne Bernstein told People that Heche’s car drove “almost all the way through” the house, catching fire “almost immediately.”
However, Mishele ” 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” in the blaze.
But the community has come together to help Mishele put her life back together.
Mishele’s landlord, Jennifer Durand, who owned the home, set up a GoFundMe for her tenant almost immediately.
Durand told People that Mishele called her right after the accident to break the news.
“She could barely speak so it took a few minutes to really understand what was happening,” Durand said.
Durand recalled the shock she felt upon first seeing the damage.
“When I arrived, we hugged and cried a lot. In that moment, I was just so relieved and grateful that she and her animals had survived this,” she told People . “Nothing could have prepared me for what the house looked like.”
Durand noted that the firefighters on the scene were as helpful and understanding as they could be.
“The firefighters helped us sift through it — I can’t accurately describe how that feels,” Durand told People . “Every firefighter and officer that I spoke with were incredibly kind and helped in every way they could. They spent so much time with us, explaining everything and helping search for things. I am especially grateful for their response.”
In her GoFundMe, Durand wrote about Mishele’s own generosity.
“A kind and generous person, Lynne is always first to offer help to others,” she wrote. “Today we are asking the community to come together and help Lynne start over.”
And the community has certainly responded.
Donations have poured in to help Mishele pick up the pieces.
As of this writing, Durand’s GoFundMe has raised $126,000 for Mishele. Durand also suggested well wishers check out Mishele’s home organization business, Creative Organization, on Instagram and TikTok .
You can visit the GoFundMe for Lynne Mishele right here .
h/t: People
