Eighteen-year-old actress Kaylee Hottle died early Tuesday morning following a severe car crash in Maryland. Hottle, known globally for her role as Jia in the Godzilla franchise, was a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord. The vehicle veered off a road in Ijamsville and struck a culvert.
The crash happened just before 3 a.m. local time. The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident. Law enforcement officials indicated that excessive speed likely contributed to the accident, according to CBC News, which verified the official statements and subsequent industry tributes. The 19-year-old driver survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
Emergency responders attempted to save Hottle at the scene. Her heart stopped while en route to the hospital. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her passing through an emotional American Sign Language livestream on Facebook.
Hottle came from a multi-generational deaf family and brought authentic deaf representation to blockbuster cinema. She debuted in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong and recently reprised her character in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. That performance earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. At the time of her death, she was a senior at the Texas School for the Deaf.
The news drew immediate reactions across the entertainment industry. Co-star Millie Bobby Brown posted a tribute on Instagram shortly after the news broke. “I’m so devastated to hear this. You will be deeply missed Kaylee”, Brown wrote. The Texas School for the Deaf also issued a public statement mourning her loss and offering support services to its community.