Deaf actress Kaylee Hottle, known for her role as Jia in "Godzilla vs. Kong" and its sequel "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," died Tuesday at age 18. The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed her cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was ruled an accident.
Hottle was one of three people traveling in a single vehicle that collided early Tuesday morning in Ijamsville, Maryland. According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the vehicle, a 1995 Honda Accord, traveled off the roadway and struck a culvert. Officials indicated that excessive speed was believed to be a contributing factor in the collision.
The actress was transported from the scene to a trauma center, where she was pronounced deceased. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and another passenger declined medical treatment.
Hottle, born into a multigenerational deaf family, made her feature film debut in the 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong." She portrayed Jia, an orphaned girl who forms a bond with the monster Kong and communicates with him using sign language. She also appeared in a 2021 episode of "Magnum P.I." and was slated to appear in the upcoming thriller "What Doesn't Kill Us."
Her father, Joshua Hottle, shared an emotional video on social media, stating that his daughter's heart stopped before she reached the hospital. He expressed gratitude for the 18 years they had together and wished for more time. He also conveyed forgiveness to the 19-year-old driver of the vehicle.
Before her film career, Hottle was involved in commercials and advocacy projects focused on deaf awareness. She was recognized for her contributions to representation in entertainment.