Two days after the death of Kaylee Hottle (2007-2026), the cause of death has now been confirmed. As "People" reports, citing the Maryland Medical Examiner's Office, the young deaf actress, known for her role as Jia in the "Godzilla vs. Kong" film series, died in a car accident.
The cause of death was determined to be multiple severe blunt force injuries. The death was ruled an accident.
Hottle had died on July 21 at the age of 18. Her father, Joshua Hottle, who is also deaf, had previously shared the tragic news in an emotional post on Facebook.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, the accident occurred in the early morning hours in Ijamsville in the state of Maryland. Kaylee Hottle was sitting in a 1995 Honda Accord that was being driven by a 19-year-old driver. The vehicle left the roadway on a two-lane road and crashed into an obstacle.
Investigators believe that excessive speed may have played a possible role in the accident. Emergency services were alerted at 2:52 a.m.
Known for "Godzilla vs. Kong"
Kaylee Hottle became internationally known for her role as Jia in "Godzilla vs. Kong" (2021) - a native of Skull Island who can communicate with the giant ape Kong using sign language.
In the 2024 sequel "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire", she returned once again as Jia. For her performance, she was nominated for a Saturn Award as best young actress.
