Teen actor Kaylee Hottle dies in Maryland car crash

Kaylee Hottle, an 18-year-old actress who appeared in "Godzilla vs. Kong" and its 2024 sequel, died in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland, on Tuesday morning. The crash involved a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old man, which left the road and struck a culvert shortly before 3 a.m., according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, while one passenger declined medical treatment at the scene. Hottle, identified as the other passenger, was transported to a trauma center where she was pronounced dead.

"Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision," the sheriff’s office said.

The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, issued a statement expressing sympathy for her family and classmates and asked the public to respect the family’s privacy. The school also announced counseling services for students and staff.

"It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away," the school statement read.

Hottle’s father, Joshua Hottle, posted a video in American Sign Language announcing his daughter’s death and said he was traveling from Texas to Maryland at the time. The reason for Hottle’s presence in Maryland has not been disclosed.

In a 2024 interview, Hottle had spoken about her experience as a deaf actress and expressed hope that her visibility would encourage other deaf young women to pursue acting.