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Kaylee Hottle Dies in

New Facts: Kaylee Hottle Dies in Car Crash at 18

Kaylee Hottle, 18, an actress known for Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, died in a car crash in Frederick County, Maryland, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office confirmed her death.

The crash occurred in Ijamsville when the car she was in veered off the road and struck a culvert. Police cited excessive speed in the crash, according to local reports and the sheriff's office.

Hottle was best known for playing Jia in the recent Godzilla films. She was a deaf actor who used American Sign Language on screen.

Most outlets report her age as 18. Newsweek's headline listed her as 19, but its story text said 18.

TMZ said it obtained emergency dispatch audio from the crash. Authorities had not released further details as of Tuesday.

Synthesized from 2 sources

BBCThe Guardian

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources

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