Kaylee Hottle, deaf Godzilla actress, killed in car crash at 18
Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress known for her role in the Godzilla film franchise, has died at age 18 following a car crash in Maryland. Authorities are investigating excessive speed as a potential factor in the accident.
Why it matters
Hottle was a prominent figure in deaf representation in Hollywood, and her sudden death has drawn tributes from co-stars and the disability community.
Hottle was one of two passengers in the car when it went off the road and hit a culvert in Ijamsville before 3 a.m. local time. The driver, a 19-year-old Frederick man, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the other passenger declined medical treatment, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Excessive speed is believed to be a factor in the crash, which is under investigation, the sheriff's office said.
Hottle was a native signer of American Sign Language (ASL), and her family members are also deaf. Her parents, Joshua and Ketsi Hottle, shared emotional video statements about her death on social media sites.
"Privilege to be your mom, Kaylee Hottle," Ketsi Hottle wrote on her video post.
"I am taking a flight I would never like to take," wrote Hottle's father.
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