Kaylee Hottle, a deaf actress known for her role as Jia in the 2021 film Godzilla vs, but Kong and its 2024 sequel Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, died in a car crash in Maryland at age 18. Authorities confirmed the crash occurred early Tuesday in Ijamsville, a community in Frederick County.

Details of the Crash

According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the accident involved a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old man from Frederick. The vehicle veered off the right side of a two-lane road just before 3 a.m. and struck a culvert. Officials believe excessive speed contributed to the crash.

The car carried three people at the time: the driver, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital, and two passengers. One passenger declined medical treatment at the scene. The second passenger was Hottle, who was pronounced dead after being taken to a trauma center.

Family and Career

Kaylee Hottle was born into a multi-generational deaf family. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the tragedy in a nearly 23-minute live stream on social media, where he explained he had to fly from Texas to claim her body. Joshua also told TMZ that officials informed him Kaylee’s heart had stopped on the way to the hospital.

Hottle began her career in commercials, including a public service announcement for the video messaging app Glide, used by many in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. She was 9 years old at the time of the commercial. In 2021, she played Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong, a character who communicates with King Kong via sign language. She reprised the role in the 2024 sequel.

In a March 2024 interview on Good Morning America, Hottle said her classmates thought her involvement in the Godzilla films was “super cool.”

Legacy and Tributes

Hottle also appeared in a 2021 episode of the Magnum P.I. reboot as a character named Joon. She was known for her work in the deaf community and her advocacy through media appearances. Her death has sparked widespread mourning on social media, with fans and fellow actors expressing their condolences.

Frederick County authorities said the crash remains under investigation as of the latest update. No arrests or citations have been announced.