Kaylee Hottle, the 18-year-old actress known for her role in the Godzilla franchise, died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a single-vehicle collision, the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to Deadline. The manner of death is listed as accidental, and an initial autopsy was completed Wednesday morning.
Crash details and response
The crash occurred on Tuesday, July 21, at approximately 2:52 a.m. on Windsor Road in Ijamsville, Maryland. According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Department, a 1995 Honda Accord carrying three occupants, including Hottle, traveled off the right side of the two-lane roadway and struck a culvert at what may have been excessive speed. The driver, a 19-year-old Frederick man, sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening and was transported to a local hospital. The second passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.
First responders reportedly scrambled to find an American Sign Language interpreter to communicate at the scene, as Hottle was deaf. Both an ambulance and a medevac helicopter were dispatched, but Hottle was pronounced dead upon arrival at a trauma center.
Family confirmation
Hottle's father, Joshua Hottle, first revealed the news in a 23-minute Facebook livestream, using American Sign Language to share that his daughter died in a car accident in Maryland. He later confirmed the details to TMZ, stating that officials informed him of the crash and that he flew to Maryland to retrieve her body after being notified that her heart stopped on the way to the hospital.
Career and legacy
Kaylee Hottle, who was deaf, was best known for playing Jia in the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong and reprised the role in 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Her performance was praised for bringing depth and authenticity to the character, a deaf girl who communicates via sign language and forms a bond with Kong.
The entertainment community has mourned her loss, with tributes highlighting her talent and the representation she brought to the deaf community. According to The Sun, dispatchers' audio revealed that first responders sought an ASL interpreter to assist at the crash scene, underscoring the challenges faced by deaf individuals in emergencies.
