Godzilla’s Kaylee Hottle died in horror 3am crash after speeding car she was passenger in ‘swerved off road into ditch’

GODZILLA vs. Kong star Kaylee Hottle died in a horrific 3am crash after the car’s driver swerved off the road and hit a ditch, law enforcement told The U.S. Sun. The Fredrick County Sheriff’s Department in Maryland confirmed Kaylee, 18, was one of two passengers in a car involved in a fatal early morning accident on Tuesday. Godzilla vs. Kong star Kaylee Hottle was killed in a single car accident after the vehicle she was a passenger in swerved off a road Credit: GC Images Kaylee was the passenger in a car which swerved off a roadway and into a ditch in Maryland early Tuesday morning Credit: Getty According to the statement, law enforcement and the county’s division of fire and rescue responded to a fatal single-vehicle collision on Windsor Road in Ijamsville. “The 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,” cops said. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! “Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision.” The driver was transported to a local hospital with “injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening,” cops continued, while the second passenger declined medical treatment. Kaylee was later pronounced dead at a trauma center. The accident remains under investigation, police claimed. News of Kaylee’s death was first shared by her father, Joshua Hottle, as reported by TMZ. He broke the painful news during a deeply emotional Facebook Live broadcast. Most read in Entertainment The actress was known for her work in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong Credit: Alamy Tributes poured in from friends and fans alike who mourned the loss of the 18-year-old with a bright future Credit: Getty Images In the post’s caption, he wrote: “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.” Communicating through American Sign Language, he explained that authorities had contacted him after her heart stopped while she was being rushed to the hospital following a severe car crash. The devastated dad got on an immediate flight to Maryland from his native Texas. Kaylee’s high school, The Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, later published a statement. “It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland,” the statement read. “Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time. “At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee’s family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident. “We recognize this loss will have a significant impact on our TSD community. “Please keep Kaylee’s loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together.” Her English teacher Mali Shadi Nikkhah also posted a deeply personal message online. In her Facebook tribute, she wrote: “My heart is SOOOOO broken. “Kaylee Hottle was absolutely a joy to have as both my English student and Debate Bowl student. I’m thinking of her family and everyone who loved her during this incredibly difficult time. Floods of messages from grieving fans quickly spread across social media platforms. “This hurts so much, she had so much future ahead, RIP Kaylee Hottle….. Kong will miss you Jia,” penned one person. “18 years old. That’s the part that hits the hardest. One moment you’re building a career. The next, the world is remembering you. Life is incredibly fragile. Rest in peace, Kaylee Hottle,” wrote a second. Born in 2007 into an all-deaf family, Kaylee got her start in acting back in 2017 with an appearance in an ad for Convo, a video relay service. Her major breakout arrived when she was cast as Jia in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong. Casting director Sarah Halley Finn had been searching for a deaf actress to take on the role, and an assistant director who remembered Kaylee from the Convo commercial pointed her in the right direction. Following the success of her debut feature, she returned as Jia in the 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a performance that earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor at the 52nd Saturn Awards. Comment now