Kaylee Hottle Dead: ‘Godzilla’ Actress’s Father Speaks Out From Airport as He Travels to Bring Her Body Home

A social media post from the actress’s father offered a heartbreaking look at his family’s grief before authorities disclosed how the young actress lost her life.

Kaylee Hottle, the deaf actress who won audiences’ hearts as Jia in the “Godzilla” franchise, has died, leaving behind a grieving family and an outpouring of tributes from friends and colleagues.

Hours after her death, Kaylee’s father, Joshua Hottle, went live on Facebook from an airport as he prepared for a journey he said he never wanted to make.

The caption on the video read, “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.” Using American Sign Language (ASL), Joshua spoke about the overwhelming grief his family was experiencing.

What Authorities Said About the Crash That Killed Kaylee
As AP reported, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) later confirmed that Kaylee died following a single-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning, July 21, 2026, in the 11400 block of Windsor Road in Ijamsville, Maryland. She was 18 at the time of her death.

Deputies and personnel from the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services responded to the scene at approximately 2:52 a.m.

According to the preliminary investigation by FCSO, a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old Frederick man traveled off the right side of the two-lane roadway before striking a culvert. Authorities believe excessive speed was a contributing factor in the collision.

The driver and two passengers were inside the vehicle. Kaylee was transported from the scene to an area trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead. The driver was hospitalized with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, while the other passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said the crash remains under investigation and asked anyone who witnessed the collision or has information about the incident to contact its Traffic Unit.

Joshua Hottle Shared His Daughter’s Final Moments
While traveling to Maryland to bring his daughter’s body home, Joshua offered one of the family’s first public accounts of what happened after the crash.

He said emergency responders fought to save Kaylee following the collision, but her heart stopped before she reached the trauma center.

Joshua also spoke about the profound grief his family now faces. Despite the heartbreak, he reflected with gratitude on the time they shared together. “Very grateful for the 18 years we had together — and wish we had more,” he said on Facebook.

Dispatch Audio Revealed the Race to Save Kaylee

Additional details about the emergency response later emerged through dispatch audio obtained by TMZ.

According to the outlet, dispatchers were told Kaylee was unconscious after the collision. Emergency personnel also requested an ASL interpreter after learning the people involved in the crash were deaf.

The media outlet reported that a medical helicopter landed at a nearby baseball field before Kaylee was airlifted to the trauma center. Dispatchers also initially struggled to contact her parents because she had been visiting a friend in Maryland for the weekend.

Kaylee’s Father Had an Unexpected Message for the Driver
Even as he mourned the loss of his daughtaer, Joshua said he wanted the young man driving the vehicle to know he did not hold bitterness toward him. “I have forgiven you,” he said. “Don’t let this incident ruin the rest of your life.”

His remarks came as investigators continue working to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.