What we know about Kaylee Hottle’s death

Kaylee Hottle, the 18-year-old actress who starred as Jia in the Godzilla vs. Kong movies, died early on Tuesday morning after a car crash in Frederick, Maryland. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed the news in a statement posted to Facebook, saying in ASL that he was flying from Texas to claim her body.

Kaylee was reportedly a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord that veered off of the road and slammed into a ditch Tuesday morning. Per the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the 19-year-old driver of the car was taken to the local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and another passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.

Joshua told TMZ he was informed by authorities that his daughter’s heart stopped on her way to the hospital. Kaylee, like her parents, was deaf, and she attended the Texas School for the Deaf, which posted a tribute to the young actress on Facebook. “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time,” the school wrote.

In 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, Kaylee starred as Jia, a young orphan who communicates with Kong through sign language. She reprised the role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, released in 2024.