New Details Revealed About ‘Godzilla vs Kong’ Star Kaylee Hottle’s Tragic Death

Fresh details have come to light about the early-morning crash that claimed Kaylee Hottle's life this week. Authorities now say speed was a key factor in the collision that cut the young star's life tragically short.

New details have emerged surrounding the sudden and tragic passing of beloved deaf actress Kaylee Hottle. The former child star died while being rushed to the hospital following a serious car accident. She was 18.

Kaylee's father confirmed the news on Tuesday, July 21, revealing that the crash occurred early that morning in Maryland. He later shared the heartbreaking update in a nearly 23-minute social media livestream, explaining in ASL that he had to fly from Texas to claim her body.

In the hours since her death made headlines, it's been reported that Kaylee died after the driver of the car she was riding in "swerved off the road and hit a ditch" at 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Department, the "Godzilla vs. Kong" star was one of two passengers involved in the fatal crash on Windsor Road in Ijamsville, Maryland.

Police say a 19-year-old was operating a 1995 Honda Accord when the vehicle "traveled off the right side of the two-lane roadway and struck a culvert."

"Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision," the statement continued. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the second passenger declined medical treatment.

Kaylee, meanwhile, was rushed to a local trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead. Her father, Joshua — who is also deaf — told TMZ that officials contacted him shortly after the crash to inform him her heart had stopped en route to the hospital.

In an emotional Facebook video addressing his daughter's death, he captioned the post, "I am taking a flight that I never would like to take."

Kaylee was born in Georgia but raised in Austin, where she attended the Texas School for the Deaf before launching her acting career at age 9. She got her start appearing in a commercial for Glide, a video messaging app widely used within the hard-of-hearing and deaf community.

Her breakout role came in the 2021 Adam Wingard-directed film "Godzilla vs. Kong," alongside Rebecca Hall, Millie Bobby Brown, and Eiza Gonzalez. She played Hall's onscreen daughter, Jia, whose special bond with Kong became a fan-favorite element of the story.

In the film, the pair live together on Skull Island, where Jia communicates with Kong using sign language. Kaylee later reprised the role in the 2024 sequel, "Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire."

The young actress, who came from a multi-generational deaf family, was set to star in the upcoming comedy thriller "What Doesn't Kill Us," currently in pre-production.

As word of her passing spread, several of Kaylee's former co-stars turned to social media to honor her memory. "Devastated to hear this news. My heart goes out to your family. You will be missed Kaylee," Hall wrote on Instagram.

Eiza Gonzalez, who played Maia Simmons in the first film, added her own tribute in the comments of Hall's post, writing, "Beyond [devastated]. Our sweet Kaylee."

Millie Bobby Brown, who portrayed Madison Russell, shared a tribute of her own via Instagram Stories, posting over a black-and-white still of Hottle from the film, "I'm so devastated to hear this. You will be missed, Kaylee."

Oscar-winning actress and longtime Deaf community advocate Marlee Matlin also paid her respects in a heartfelt message.

"I am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle. May her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity," Matlin wrote on Instagram. "Such a privilege to have met Kaylee last year. Please be kind to one another. Take the time to listen to your child. Say 🤟🏼 each time you part. 🩵."