Teen actress known for 'Godzilla' roles killed in Maryland crash
Eighteen-year-old Kaylee Hottle, who appeared in two recent 'Godzilla' films, died after a single-vehicle crash in Frederick County, Maryland; a 19-year-old driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
An 18-year-old actress identified as Kaylee Hottle died early Tuesday following a single-vehicle crash on Windsor Road in Ijamsville, Maryland, officials said. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office received the call at about 2:52 a.m. and found that a 19-year-old driver of a Honda Accord had left the road on the right side, striking a culvert. Preliminary findings suggest excessive speed contributed to the accident.
The driver was trapped in the vehicle but was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Hottle, a senior at the Texas School for the Deaf, was taken to a medical facility where she was pronounced dead. A second passenger in the vehicle was not injured.
Hottle made her feature-film debut in the 2021 blockbuster "Godzilla vs. Kong," portraying Jia, a deaf character who communicates with Kong using American Sign Language. She reprised the role in the 2024 sequel "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," earning a Saturn Award nomination for best performance by a younger actor.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, posted a video in American Sign Language on Facebook announcing his daughter's death and stating he was traveling from Texas to Maryland. The Texas School for the Deaf released a statement expressing condolences and offering counseling services to students and staff.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Frederick County Sheriff's Office at 301-600-1046.