Cause of Death Confirmed for Godzilla x Kong Actress Kaylee Hottle After Fatal Crash

Kaylee Hottle, the Deaf actress known for playing Jia in the Godzilla x Kong films, has died at the age of 18 following a car crash in Maryland.

According to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Hottle died from multiple blunt force injuries. Her death was ruled an accident. Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed to TMZ that she died while being transported to a hospital after the crash on July 21.

Joshua Hottle also shared the news in a video posted in American Sign Language on Facebook, saying he was traveling from Texas to Maryland to bring his daughter home.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office said the crash happened around 2:52 a.m. on July 21 in Ijamsville, Maryland. Investigators said a 19-year-old driver was traveling with two passengers when the 1995 Honda Accord left the road and struck a culvert. Authorities believe excessive speed was a contributing factor. The investigation is ongoing.

Born into a multigenerational Deaf family, Hottle began acting after appearing in a 2017 advertisement for an American Sign Language translation app. She made her film debut in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), where her portrayal of Jia became a standout part of the franchise. She returned to the role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024).

In addition to the MonsterVerse films, Hottle appeared in an episode of Magnum P.I. and earned a 2024 Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Performer in a Film for her performance in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.