Kaylee Hottle, deaf actress, Texas School for the Deaf student, dies in Maryland car crash

AUSTIN, Texas - Kaylee Hottle, a deaf actress and student at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, has died in a car crash in Maryland, according to her father and school.

She was 18.

What they're saying:

Her father Joshua Hottle shared the news in an almost 23-minute livestream on Facebook, captioned "I am taking a flight that I never would like to take."

According to reporting by TMZ, Joshua stated in ASL that he learned his daughter was involved in a serious car accident, and that officials had called him shortly after the initial shock to tell him she had died on the way to the hospital.

Her mother Ketsi Hottle also shared a video in ASL about her daughter's death, saying in the caption: "Privilege to be your mom, Kaylee Hottle."

Kaylee attended the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin, which shared a statement on her death on social media:

"It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland.

Our hearts are with Kaylee's family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.

At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee's family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident.

We recognize this loss will have a significant impact on our TSD community. Counseling and support services are available for students and staff who may need them, with additional support being provided for Kaylee's classmates and friends.

Please keep Kaylee's loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together."

Dig deeper:

Kaylee was an Atlanta, Georgia native from a multi-generational deaf family who got her start in commercials when she was just nine years old.

Kaylee gained widespread recognition for her role as Jia in Warner Bros.' "Godzilla vs Kong" (2021), and its sequel "Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire" (2024). 

Her character was a young orphaned deaf girl who formed a unique and powerful bond with Kong via sign language.

Her IMDb credits also include a role in season 4 of the "Magnum P.I." reboot, and she was set to star alongside fellow deaf actress Alaqua Cox (Marvel's "Echo", "Hawkeye") in the upcoming film "What Doesn't Kill Us".

The backstory:

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office released information on the crash.

Deputies and EMS were called to the scene of the single-vehicle crash just before 3 a.m. July 21.

A preliminary investigation shows that the car, a 1995 Honda Accord, was being driven by a 19-year-old Frederick man and had driven off the right side of the two-lane roadway and struck a culvert.

Officials believe that excessive speed contributed to the crash.

Three people were in the car, including Kaylee, the driver and a second passenger. The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the other passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.

Kaylee was taken from the scene to an area trauma center where she was pronounced dead.

The crash is still under investigation by the sheriff's office, which is asking anyone with information to contact Dfc. Rose at 301-600-1046. 

Tributes to Kaylee

Big picture view:

Kaylee's death has prompted tributes on social media from fellow deaf actors, including Oscar winners Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur.

Matlin posted a photo of her, Kaylee and actress Shoshannah Stern when she and Stern visited the Texas School for the Deaf during their 2025 visit to Austin.

"I am absolutely gutted about the passing of sweet Kaylee Hottle," wrote Matlin on Instagram. "May her beauty and talent be a memory for eternity."

Stern also wrote in an Instagram story: "I am heartbroken. My deepest sympathies to the Hottle family."

Kotsur said in an Instagram post sharing a graphic from the Hollywood Reporter: "I have no words to express on what happened this morning. This moment now makes me think of our own daughter and how to remember not to take time for granted. My deepest condolences to the Hottle family."

Marvel actress Alaqua Cox also shared a tribute to her in an Instagram story, saying: "I'm so heartbroken. My heart goes out to her family during this unimaginable time."

Hottle's "Godzilla" co-star Millie Bobby Brown, who played Madison Russell in the franchise, also posted a tribute on her Instagram story, saying: I'm so devastated to hear this. You will be deeply missed Kaylee."