Medical Examiner Confirms Cause of Death for “Godzilla vs. Kong” Actress Kaylee Hottle, 18

Maryland’s chief medical examiner confirmed Wednesday that “Godzilla vs. Kong” star Kaylee Hottle died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a car accident. The 18-year-old deaf actress perished in a single-vehicle collision that occurred early Tuesday morning in Ijamsville, Maryland, with her death ruled accidental by officials.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office detailed that a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old resident of Frederick departed the roadway on the two-lane route and struck a culvert before dawn. Hottle was one of three occupants in the vehicle and was airlifted to a regional trauma facility, where she was subsequently declared dead.

Investigators determined that excessive speed played a significant role in the crash. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized, while a second passenger refused medical attention at the scene. Officials have asked anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the sheriff’s department.

Hottle’s father, Joshua Hottle, posted a video statement expressing his family’s grief while signing in American Sign Language. He disclosed that his daughter’s heart ceased functioning prior to her arrival at the hospital and stated he had forgiven the vehicle operator, urging him not to allow the tragedy to derail his future.

Born into a multigenerational deaf household, Hottle gained recognition for portraying Jia, a young orphan character, in both “Godzilla vs. Kong” and its 2024 sequel, communicating with the giant ape through sign language. Prior to her film debut, she appeared in commercials and deaf advocacy projects and had a guest role on the television series “Magnum P.I.”