Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies In Car Accident In MD

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story indicated that Kaylee Hottle was 19 years old; however, police have since confirmed she was 18. The story has been updated and Patch apologizes for the error.

FREDERICK, MD — Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress who starred in “Godzilla Vs. Kong" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," was killed in a car accident early Tuesday morning in Maryland. She was 18 years old.

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Hottle's father, Joshua, confirmed her death in a Facebook livestream, telling viewers that he had to fly from Texas to Maryland to claim her body.

“I am taking a flight that I never would like to take,” the caption to the video read.

TMZ, which was first to report the news, also confirmed Hottle's death with her father.

According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the single-vehicle collision occurred shortly before 3 a.m. in the 11400 block of Windsor Road in Ijamsville.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 1995 Honda Accord, operated by a 19-year-old Frederick man, 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 crash, police said.

In addition to the driver, Hottle and one other passenger were in the vehicle at the time of the collision. The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the other passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.

Hottle was taken from the scene to an area trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead, police said.

Hottle attended the Texas School for the Deaf, which released a statement following her death.

"Our hearts are with Kaylee's family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time," school officials wrote

Hottle was an actress who became known for portraying Jia, the deaf Iwi girl who formed a unique bond with King Kong in the MonsterVerse films.

Born in Atlanta in 2007, Hottle came from a multi-generational deaf family and was fluent in American Sign Language. She first appeared in commercials and advocacy projects promoting accessibility and the Deaf community before breaking into feature films.

Hottle made her feature film debut in "Godzilla vs. Kong," earning praise for bringing authentic deaf representation to a major Hollywood blockbuster. She reprised the role in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" and received a Saturn Award nomination for best younger performer.

Hottle also appeared in an episode of "Magnum P.I." Her brief career made her one of the most recognizable young deaf actors in mainstream film and helped broaden representation of deaf performers in Hollywood.

The crash remains under investigation by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office Traffic Unit. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information related to this investigation is asked to contact Dfc. Rose at 301-600-1046.