Deaf actress Kaylee Hottle has tragically died at the age of 18 following a car crash in Maryland.
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Hottle's father, Joshua, confirmed to TMZ that his daughter was killed in the crash on Tuesday, July 21.
The young actress was best known for portraying Jia in the Godzilla franchise.
According to Deadline, the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Hottle died from "multiple blunt force injuries."
Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18 Following Maryland Car Crash
The medical examiner's office classified Hottle's death as accidental and completed an initial autopsy on Wednesday morning.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Hottle was a passenger in a Honda Accord that left the roadway and crashed into a ditch at around 3 a.m.
Investigators believe the vehicle may have been traveling at a high speed before it veered off the road.
The driver, a 19-year-old Maryland man, was taken to a local hospital with injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening.
Another passenger reportedly declined medical treatment at the scene.
Hottle was transported to a nearby trauma center, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Joshua announced his daughter's death during a 21-minute Facebook livestream delivered in American Sign Language.
Both Joshua and Kaylee were deaf and came from a multigenerational deaf family.
The Texas School for the Deaf, where Kaylee was a senior, also confirmed her passing.
Family and School Pay Tribute to Young Actress
Hottle made her film debut as Jia in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), playing a young girl who communicates with King Kong through sign language while living on Skull Island with Dr. Ilene Andrews, portrayed by Rebecca Hall.
She reprised the role in 2024's Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
According to her IMDb page, Hottle had also been cast in the upcoming thriller What Doesn't Kill Us, which is currently in pre-production.
Among those paying tribute was Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, who remembered Hottle's "talent" and "kindness" in a heartfelt message shared on social media.
Brown posted a black-and-white photo of Hottle to her Instagram Story alongside the message, "I'm so devastated to hear this."
"You will be deeply missed Kaylee."
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office Traffic Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
