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Kaylee Hottle was a teenage actress who starred in two Godzilla movies. She died at age 18 on the morning of July 21, 2026, in a car crash.
TMZ obtained dispatch audio of the frantic response to the scene. Hottle "was unconscious after the car she was riding in crashed in Maryland … and first responders scrambled to find an American Sign Language interpreter and contact her family," according to TMZ.
First responders ordered "an ambulance and an emergency aircraft, which landed on a baseball field near the crash scene," TMZ reported, adding that a friend, who was driving, was awake and alert at the scene.
"We are devastated by the tragic passing of Kaylee Hottle. Through her unforgettable portrayal of Jia, Kaylee brought extraordinary heart, humanity, and light to Godzilla, Kong, and the Monsterverse," Legendary wrote. "She was a cherished member of our film family, and her kindness, warmth, and remarkable talent touched everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her during this unimaginably difficult time."
A Dispatcher Noted That Kaylee Hottle Was 'Visiting the Area' When She Died
Page Six also obtained the dispatch audio. One dispatcher "noted that Kaylee was visiting the area and that the friend she was with did not have contact information for her family," Page Six reported.
“If anybody has access to the interpreter app on the phones, can you please start this way? Because we need a sign language interpreter," said a first responder in the audio, according to Page Six.
First responders described “heavy front-end damage” to the vehicle and said the "vehicle had traveled roughly 10 feet off the roadway and into a culvert," Page Six reported.
The Single-Car Crash That Killed Kaylee Hottle Occurred in Maryland
According to WBAL-TV, "deputies were called around 2:52 a.m. to a single-vehicle crash in the 11400 block of Windsor Road in Ijamsville," which is located in Maryland.
"A 19-year-old Frederick man driving a Honda Accord left the road on the right side and struck a culvert. Investigators said excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash," the television station reported, not identifying the driver.
The driver had non life-threatening injuries, according to WBAL-TV.
Kaylee Hottle Was Not Married; Her Dad Posted a Heartbreaking Video After Her Death
Kaylee was not married and did not have a husband or publicly identified boyfriend.
Her father Josh Hottle posted a heartbreaking video after her death. "I am taking a flight that I never would like to take," he says in the video, in which he uses American Sign Language.
Kaylee Hottle was from Texas. "Beautiful end, letting you go," he wrote in another post about his daughter. Kaylee's mom also shared a video expressing her grief and how proud she was to be Kaylee's mom.
"She sang the song beautifully! We all will miss her dearly," Josh wrote, sharing a video of his daughter. There is a GoFundMe page to help Hottle's family. "Kaylee Hottle’s family is facing an unimaginable loss after Kaylee tragically passed away in a car accident. Kaylee was a beloved member of her family and community, and her sudden passing has left her loved ones heartbroken and overwhelmed," that page says.
