Deaf ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ actress Kaylee Hottle’s cause of death confirmed

The manner of Kaylee Hottle’s tragic death was an accident, Page Six can confirm. The cause is multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical…

The manner of Kaylee Hottle’s tragic death was an accident, Page Six can confirm.

The cause is multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The Fredrick County Sheriff’s Department in Maryland confirmed the “Godzilla vs. Kong” actress was one of two passengers in the car involved in a fatal crash Tuesday morning, according to the US Sun.

Kaylee Hottle attending the premiere of "Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire"
Kaylee Hottle’s cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries following a tragic car accident. (Pictured: Hottle at a red carpet in 2024.) WireImage
Kaylee Hottle holding a Kong doll in "Godzilla vs. Kong."
Page Six confirmed the news Wednesday after the child star (seen above in “Godzilla vs. Kong”) was involved in the fatal crash Tuesday. ©HBO Max/Courtesy Everett Collection

As Page Six previously reported, the deaf actress’ dad, Joshua Hottle, shared the tragedy with TMZ on Tuesday after posting a tearful Facebook livestream.

He explained in ASL that while he was in Texas, he got a call from Maryland authorities about the collision, and later received a follow-up call stating his daughter’s heart had stopped en route to the hospital.

He told TMZ he was flying to Maryland to claim the teenager’s body.

A damaged black car being loaded onto a tow truck.
The “Godzilla vs. Kong” actress was one of two passengers in the car involved in a fatal crash Tuesday morning. TMZ
Damaged black car on a tow truck after a car crash.
Page Six later confirmed that Kaylee died after the driver of the car “swerved off the road and hit a ditch.” TMZ

Kaylee’s mother, Ketsi Hottle, also shared a devastating tribute after her daughter’s death, calling it a “privilege to be” the 18-year-old’s mom in the caption of a tearful Instagram video Tuesday.

Page Six later confirmed that Kaylee died after the driver of the car she was in “swerved off the road and hit a ditch” at 3 a.m. on Tuesday.

Per police, a 19-year-old was operating a 1995 Honda Accord when the vehicle “traveled off the right side of the two-lane roadway and struck a culvert.”

Kaylee Hottle with long dark hair, wearing a grey zipped jacket, sitting on a wooden chair and smiling at the camera.
The deaf actress’ father confirmed her tragic passing to TMZ on Tuesday morning. Getty Images
A woman grimaces with tears in her eyes, hands up as if in distress.
Her mom also shared a heartbreaking video describing her loss in ALS. SyncwithASL/Facebook

“Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision,” the police statement continued.

The driver was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Kaylee was taken to a local trauma center and later pronounced dead. 

Kaylee was born in Georgia but grew up in Austin, attending the Texas School for the Deaf before starting her career in acting when she was 9.

Her breakout role was as Jia in the 2021 Adam Wingard-directed film “Godzilla vs. Kong” alongside Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews.

Kaylee Hottle sitting next to a Kong action figure, smiling at the camera.
The young star (pictured in 2021) began her acting career when she was 9. Getty Images
Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle on set for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.
Her breakout role was as Jia in the 2021 Adam Wingard-directed film “Godzilla vs. Kong” (seen above.) ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

She also returned for the 2021 sequel, “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.”

Kaylee’s “Godzilla vs. Kong” co-star Millie Bobby Brown shared she is “devastated” over the young star’s passing.

“You will be deeply missed Kaylee,” Brown wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of Kaylee in the 2021 film.

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