The parents of Kaylee Hottle did not recognize the two men who survived the car accident that took her life.
An 18-year-old deaf actor was involved in a car accident in Maryland on Tuesday. The Honda Accord they were riding in went off the road and into a ditch. Police say speeding likely contributed to the crash.
According to her father, Joshua Hottle, the actress was visiting a friend in Maryland when the car crash happened. Her friend wasn’t with her in the vehicle at the time.
He said his daughter was riding in the backseat of the vehicle with two men unknown to the family.
Mr. Hottle said his family still doesn’t know how the victim was connected to the 19-year-old driver or the other person in the car.
The family is waiting for additional information once the autopsy is completed.
The family has not yet set a date for memorial and funeral services.
Investigators have determined that alcohol didn’t play a role in the car crash that caused the death of actress Hottle.
I still can’t believe it… they said poor Mr. Hottle died from being hit, multiple times! It’s just awful. But thankfully – and I guess this is something, even though it doesn’t bring him back – the Sheriff’s Office told The Daily Mail that the 19-year-old driver wasn’t drinking or anything when it happened. Still doesn’t make it okay, but… well, at least that wasn’t a factor.
I was so relieved to hear that the driver’s injuries weren’t life-threatening. Thankfully, one of the other passengers seemed okay and didn’t need any medical attention right there.
We’re still waiting for the results of the driver’s drug test, so it’s unclear if they will be charged with a crime. Authorities have determined that Hottle’s death was an accident.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
I was so thrilled to see Kaylee as this incredible character! She played a young girl who had this amazing ability to connect with King Kong through sign language. She first appeared in ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ back in 2021, and I was so happy they brought her back for the new movie, ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’!
Hottle’s autopsy was completed on Wednesday morning.
Photos of the wrecked car the teenager was traveling in show extensive damage to the vehicle.
The car’s front end is severely damaged. The hood is badly crumpled, and the bumper is nearly broken off.
Grass and mud were twisted in the front wheels and the bumper.
According to TMZ, Hottle’s father announced on Facebook Live – with a post titled ‘I am taking a flight that I never would like to take’ – that he was traveling from Texas to identify and retrieve his daughter’s body.
Joshua, who is deaf, communicated through ASL that he was informed by officials—via a phone call—that his daughter’s heart had stopped while she was being transported to the hospital, shortly after he found out about the accident.
Kaylee’s school, the Texas School for the Deaf, also announced her passing on their Facebook page.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Kaylee Hottle, one of our senior team members at TSD. She tragically died yesterday in a car accident near Frederick, Maryland.
As a lifestyle expert focused on community and well-being, my heart truly goes out to everyone affected by the loss of Kaylee – her family, friends, schoolmates, and all those who cherished her. It’s an unbelievably tough time for them all, and I’m sending strength and support.
We currently know very few details and kindly request that you respect Kaylee’s family’s privacy. Please avoid sharing rumors or guessing about what happened.
We understand this loss is deeply felt by everyone in the TSD community. Support and counseling services are available for students and staff who are struggling, and extra help is being offered to Kaylee’s classmates and friends.
‘Please keep Kaylee’s loved ones in your thoughts as we mourn this tremendous loss together.’
Kaylee is famous for playing Jia, a young girl with a unique bond to King Kong. She could communicate with him through sign language.
You know, working with Kong was really something special for me. We actually had this unspoken connection – almost like we understood each other without words. I shared that with The Daily Moth back in 2021; it felt like we were on the same wavelength.
Translating the script into American Sign Language involved Kaylee’s parents and another person, and it wasn’t always easy during filming.
I didn’t mind learning and signing my own lines, but it was difficult signing the dialogue because we often had to adjust it. Sometimes they’d say it was incorrect, but they didn’t realize that ASL often changes the meaning of things.
The interpreter was simply voicing my words. While the producer and director occasionally asked me to stick to the written script, the equivalent phrases in American Sign Language (ASL) wouldn’t always match up.
We had a small miscommunication regarding the American Sign Language translation, which briefly slowed things down, but it was eventually resolved.
Kaylee helped her fellow actors learn basic sign language, as none of them had ever met someone who was Deaf before.
Okay, so teaching them sign language was tricky at first – honestly, getting across how to actually sign and use your face to communicate… that took a while! But once they started to get it, oh my gosh, it was amazing. They were SO eager to learn, it really wasn’t hard at all. Seriously, everyone was so understanding and helpful. And the best part? Some of them actually learned how to sign back! I’m still freaking out about it!
Kaylee’s fellow actor, Alexander Skarsgard, complimented her highly, saying she was the standout performer in the movie.
He even learned ASL in order to communicate with her when they weren’t filming.
In a 2021 interview with Junkee, someone praised Kaylee’s performance as stealing the show. They noted it was her first film role and were impressed by how natural she seemed on camera, quickly learning from director Adam Wingard.
He explains things to her, and she immediately says she understands, then flawlessly executes them, leaving everyone amazed. She’s remarkably professional, and it’s captivating to observe the complex emotions and subtle expressions on her face as she works.
According to her IMDb, Kaylee hails from an all-deaf family.
Besides playing a part in the Godzilla movies, Kaylee also made a guest appearance on Magnum P.I. and starred in commercials for assistive listening devices.
She appeared in a promotional video for Glide, a video messaging app, and also starred in an advertisement for Convo Relay.
Kaylee was also featured in 10 Deaf Children: One Powerful Message.
Outside the spotlight, she was also an athlete as a member of her school’s track and field team.
2026-07-24 02:22