MARYLAND, July 24 2026 — Authorities have confirmed that alcohol was not a factor in the fatal car crash that claimed the life of Godzilla vs. Kong actress Kaylee Hottle, as investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Hottle, 18, best known for portraying Jia in the Godzilla franchise, died after the vehicle she was travelling in veered off the road and crashed into a ditch in Ijamsville, Frederick County, Maryland, in the early hours of July 21.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the 19-year-old driver was not impaired by alcohol at the time of the crash. Investigators believe excessive speed was a contributing factor, while toxicology results for other substances remain pending. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been announced.
Hottle was a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord that left the roadway before striking a culvert. She was transported to a nearby trauma centre, where she was pronounced dead. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while another passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.
The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Hottle’s death an accident, with the cause of death determined to be multiple blunt force injuries.
Hottle gained international recognition for her role as Jia, the deaf orphan who communicates with Kong using sign language, in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Her death has prompted tributes from co-stars, filmmakers and fans worldwide.
–The Daily Mail
