Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress who achieved international acclaim for her role in the recent Godzilla film franchise, has died following a road accident in the American state of Maryland. She was 18 years old.
The collision occurred early on Tuesday morning near Ijamsville when the vehicle in which Kaylee Hottle was travelling left the road and struck a concrete culvert, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.
Emergency personnel airlifted Kaylee Hottle from the scene, but she passed away before arriving at hospital.
Authorities stated that the 19-year-old driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while a second passenger declined medical treatment at the site.
Police investigators believe high speed was a key factor in the accident, and formal enquiries into the crash remain ongoing.
A native user of American Sign Language, Kaylee Hottle grew up in a deaf family and achieved global fame portraying Jia, an orphaned girl who communicates with Kong using sign language, in both "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire".
Critics and fans widely praised her performances for bringing authentic deaf representation to blockbuster cinema.
Following the news, her father Joshua Hottle expressed deep sorrow on social media, while publicly offering forgiveness to the driver and asking that the tragedy not ruin the young man's future.
Tributes have poured in from across the film industry. Co-star Millie Bobby Brown shared a message on Instagram stating she was heartbroken by the news, while actor Alexander Skarsgård previously praised her professionalism on set.
Prominent deaf actors Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur also paid tribute to her talent, while the Texas School for the Deaf, where she studied, announced that support and counselling services have been arranged for students and staff.
