Mini Mayhem: Anne Heche’s Speedy Crash Turns a Home into a House of Flames
On Saturday, August 6th, the tiny Mini Clubman that dancers, fan‑boys and rumor‑hunters like Anne Heche have been raving about once again caused a stir, this time in the form of a literal smash‑fury that set a Mar Vista house ablaze. The little car, apparently driven at around 90 mph, barreled into Lynne Mishele’s one‑story home, leaving a scorched‑out cookie‑crust trail of damage and emergency crews scrambling to keep the blaze in check.
The Accident
On the Road
- Crash reported on Preston Way after Heche ran a stop sign at the Walgrove intersection.
- The Mini, apparently still sporting a bottle of vodka in the cupholder, speedily dropped through thick privacy bushes before plowing straight into the wall of the house.
- Witnesses heard the vehicle first slam into a garage at the apartment complex, then reverse‑shooting for the Mar Vista home.
Firefighters to the Rescue
- About 59 firefighters fought the blaze for 65 minutes before bringing it to a crouching heap.
- The house was red‑tagged by LAFD and declared an evacuation zone.
- Structural damage was severe enough to warrant a full takedown of the interior.
The Aftermath
Lost Everything
Little “Ruff” pups Bree and Rueban, and the cackling tortoise Marley, fortunately were spared but their home was incinerated. Lynne Mishele’s business and personal life were also turned into ash: scales, laptop, iPad, clothes, all those night‑stand treasures that usually keep a battle‑starved entrepreneur sane.
New GoFundMe
- The GoFundMe page says “Lynne lives with her beautiful pups Bree and Rueban, and tortoise Marley in the Mar Vista home that was destroyed this week by a car driving into the home at a high rate of speed, catching the house on fire.”
- As of now, the fundraiser has raised more than $24,000—displaying the fierce community love that blooms after the worst disasters.
Neighbour’s Perspective
The “Lucky” Survivor
Lynne Bernstein, a neighbour in the 502‑block, sighed over the frantic report: “The tenant was extremely fortunate to have survived the accident unscathed.” She described Mishele’s reaction as a stunned shock‑wave that left her mumbling “What happened? What happened?” – a miniature version of a station‑serene phrase.
Almost Through the House
Bernstein recalled: “Heche’s vehicle drove almost all the way through the house and almost immediately caught fire.”
Anne in the Hospital
Anne Heche was rushed to a hospital, intubated after severe burns. She’s currently considered stable. “We’re hoping yes,” a source said, and she’s been defiant, calling herself “the drug‑addicted queen” minutes before the accident — a fact that sparked rumors of a new podcast episode: “remember that bottle of vodka in the cupholder.”
What’s Next?
While investigators sift through wreckage and investigate the vehicle’s speed record, it’s safe to say Paxmedia’s newest drama piece may or may not help Heche’s traffic stop sign saga.
Indeed, it turns out there’s a real difference between watching the well‑timed Mini wrap in a highlight reel and riding that little car godswearing into a neighborhood. It’s a painful reminder that some lives can be saved by the quick mani-scheming of fire crews, looking still emotional, and some can be lost all at once – for better or worse, a movie whose finale probably won’t end up on Netflix.
