Kaylee Hottle, the deaf American actress best known for playing Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, has died at the age of 18 following a road accident in Maryland.

Hottle died in the early hours of Tuesday after a single-vehicle crash in Ijamsville, Maryland, authorities said.

Her father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in a video statement shared on Facebook using American Sign Language.

According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Hottle was one of two passengers in a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old man when the vehicle reportedly left a two-lane highway and struck a culvert.

The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital, while the second passenger declined medical treatment at the scene. Hottle was airlifted to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigators said excessive speed is believed to have contributed to the crash, adding that inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Texas School for the Deaf described Hottle’s death as a “tremendous loss” in a statement posted on Instagram.

The school extended condolences to her family, friends and classmates, urged the public to respect the family’s privacy, and appealed against speculation surrounding the circumstances of the accident. It also said counselling and support services would be made available to students and staff affected by the loss.

Hottle gained international recognition for portraying Jia, Kong’s deaf companion, in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong. She reprised the role in the 2024 sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Her performance earned her a Saturn Award nomination in 2024 for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. Beyond her film work, Hottle also appeared in television commercials and featured in an episode of the rebooted Magnum P.I. series.