Kaylee Hottle, the deaf American actress known for playing Jia in the Godzilla vs Kong film series, has died in a car crash aged 18. Police in Frederick, Maryland, said excessive speed was believed to be a factor in the single-vehicle crash, which happened on Tuesday morning. Her death has prompted tributes from her former school and the film studio behind the movies, underlining her recognition as a young performer in a major Hollywood franchise.

Frederick County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the crash scene in Ijamsville at around 02:50 local time; the 19-year-old driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while a second passenger declined treatment. Hottle's father confirmed her death in a video statement using American Sign Language, and the Texas School for the Deaf, where she studied, expressed "profound sadness" while asking for the family's privacy to be respected. Warner Bros paid tribute to her, and Hottle's performance in the 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire had earned her a Saturn Award nomination for best younger performer.