‘Godzilla’ Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18 Following Maryland Car Crash

Hottle died on Tuesday from injuries sustained in single-vehicle collision in Ijamsville, Maryland.

Actress Kaylee Hottle attends the world premiere of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood on March 25, 2024. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Actress Kaylee Hottle, best known for her roles in “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire,” has died at the age of 18, following a car accident.

Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the young star died on Tuesday in Maryland during a Facebook Live stream. Using American Sign Language, he told followers that he was flying from Texas to claim Kaylee’s body.

“I am taking a flight that I never would like to take,” he captioned the post.

Born in Atlanta to a multi-generational deaf family, Kaylee Hottle rose to fame in 2021 with her feature film debut as Jia in “Godzilla vs. Kong.”

In the movie, she portrayed a deaf orphan who shares a unique bond with “Kong” through American Sign Language. She later reprised the role in 2024’s “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

According to a statement from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at approximately 2:52 a.m. local time, with emergency personnel responding to a fatal single-vehicle collision in Ijamsville, Maryland.

Investigators said a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old Frederick man veered off the right side of the two-lane roadway before striking a culvert. Preliminary findings indicate that excessive speed may have contributed to the crash.

Three people were inside the vehicle at the time of the collision. The driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries that authorities said were not considered life-threatening, while another passenger declined treatment at the scene.

Kaylee Hottle, the second passenger, was identified and transported to a regional trauma center, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and is asking anyone with information to come forward.

Prior to entering the film industry, Hottle appeared in numerous commercials and advocacy projects promoting accessibility and awareness for the deaf community. She was also a student at the Texas School for the Deaf, and through her work further helped expand deaf representation in Hollywood.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland,” the Texas School for the Deaf wrote in a social media tribute.

“Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”

“At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee’s family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident.”

Hottle’s other credits include a 2021 appearance during an episode of “Magnum P.I.” and a starring role in the thriller “What Doesn’t Kill Us,” which is in pre-production.