Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actor who won global recognition for her role as Jia in the Godzilla film franchise, has died in a car crash in the US state of Maryland. She was 18.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said Hottle was a passenger in a Honda Accord that veered off the road and struck a culvert in Ijamsville shortly before 3am on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital, while another passenger declined medical treatment.

Authorities believe excessive speed may have contributed to the crash, which remains under investigation.

Hottle’s father, Joshua Hottle, confirmed her death in an emotional video message shared in American Sign Language (ASL), saying he was travelling from Texas to Maryland to bring his daughter’s body home.

“Kaylee’s mom and four siblings are crushed,” he said, adding that the family was devastated by the loss.

Despite the tragedy, he also offered words of forgiveness to the young driver involved in the crash, saying: “I have forgiven you. Don’t let this incident ruin the rest of your life.”

Her mother, Ketsi Hottle, also paid tribute, saying she still felt her daughter was with the family.

Born into a multigenerational deaf family in Atlanta, Georgia, Hottle was a native ASL signer and became a prominent advocate for deaf representation in mainstream cinema.

Kaylee Hottle shot to international fame in 2021 with her role as Jia in Godzilla vs Kong, playing a deaf orphan who forms a strong bond with Kong through sign language.

She returned as Jia in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in 2024, giving another sterling performance that earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

Before joining the Godzilla franchise, Hottle appeared in commercials promoting services for the deaf community.

She later featured in an episode of Magnum P.I. and had completed work on the upcoming film What Doesn’t Kill Us.

In a 2024 interview, Hottle credited her parents and sisters as her biggest inspirations and said she had initially worried that fame might change her everyday life after starring in the blockbuster films.

Following news of her death, tributes poured in from co-stars, filmmakers and members of the deaf community.

Millie Bobby Brown, who appeared alongside Hottle in the Godzilla films, wrote on Instagram: “I’m so devastated to hear this. You will be deeply missed, Kaylee.”

Actor Alexander Skarsgård, who learned ASL to communicate with Hottle during filming, had previously praised her professionalism and ability to quickly adapt to direction on set.

Alaqua Cox, Hottle’s co-star in What Doesn’t Kill Us, said she was heartbroken and extended her condolences to the actor’s family.

Oscar-winning actor Marlee Matlin described Hottle as a gifted young performer whose beauty and talent would be remembered forever, while fellow Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur said her death served as a reminder to cherish time with loved ones.

The Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed her death and announced counselling services for students and staff, urging the community to keep her family in their thoughts during the difficult time.