What happened to Kaylee Hottle?

Actress Kaylee Hottle, best known for playing Jia in the Godzilla films, has died in a road accident in Maryland.

Frederick County Sheriff's Office: Hottle was a passenger in a vehicle that veered off the road in Ijamsville, trapping the driver inside.

IJAMSVILLE, Maryland —

According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, 18-year-old actress Kaylee Hottle, best known for her roles in two Godzilla films, died in a crash early Tuesday morning.

The Sheriff's Office said deputies were called at approximately 2:52 a.m. to the 11400 block of Windsor Road in Ijamsville for a report of a single-vehicle accident.

A preliminary investigation found that a 19-year-old man from Frederick was driving a Honda Accord when the vehicle left the roadway on the right side and struck a culvert. Investigators believe excessive speed was a contributing factor in the crash.

The driver became trapped inside the vehicle and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

Authorities said Hottle, 18, of Kyle, Texas, was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

A second passenger was not injured.

Joshua Hottle posted an emotional 23-minute video on Facebook in American Sign Language, sharing the news of his daughter's death. In the video, he said, "I am boarding a flight I never wanted to take." He explained that he was traveling from Texas to Maryland.

Kaylee Hottle made her feature film debut in the 2021 movie Godzilla vs. Kong, playing Jia, a young girl who forms a bond with Kong and communicates with him primarily through American Sign Language. Her performance was widely praised for providing authentic deaf representation in a major Hollywood blockbuster.

The Atlanta resident reprised the role of Jia in the 2024 film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, earning a nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor at the Saturn Awards.

Kaylee Hottle attended the Texas School for the Deaf, where she was a senior student. The school posted the following statement on Facebook:

It is with profound sadness that we share the news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland.

During this incredibly difficult time, we extend our deepest condolences to Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her.

At this time, we have very limited information and ask everyone to respect the privacy of Kaylee’s family and refrain from speculation or sharing unverified information about the circumstances of the accident.

We recognize that this loss will have a significant impact on our TSD community. Counseling and support services are available for students and staff who may need them, and additional support is being arranged for Kaylee’s classmates and friends.

As we grieve this irreplaceable loss together, please keep Kaylee’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the incident is asked to contact DFC Rose at 301-600-1046.