Celebrity3 min(s) read
Godzilla star Kaylee Hottle’s cause of death confirmed as shocking new photos emerge
The cause and manner of death of Godzilla vs. Kong actress Kaylee Hottle have been officially confirmed.
According to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the 18-year-old actress died from multiple blunt force injuries, with her death ruled an accident.
The confirmation comes as new pictures from the crash scene reveal the damage sustained by the car she was traveling in during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
New photos reveal extent of crash damage
Images obtained by TMZ show the 1995 Honda Accord almost unrecognizable after the collision.
The front of the vehicle was completely crushed, with the hood caved in from the impact.
The front passenger-side door was left hanging open, while the car's wheels were missing their hubcaps before the vehicle was eventually towed from the scene.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Department in Maryland confirmed Hottle was one of two passengers inside the car involved in the fatal single-vehicle crash.
Police previously said the vehicle, driven by a 19-year-old man, "travelled off the right side of the two-lane roadway and struck a culvert" at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, per News.com.au.
"Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision," the police statement continued.
The driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while a second passenger declined medical treatment.
Hottle was transported to a local trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead.
Dispatch audio reveals challenges for first responders
Newly obtained emergency dispatch recordings have also shed light on the moments after the crash.
Because Hottle was deaf, first responders immediately tried to get assistance from anyone who could communicate using sign language or access an interpreter application.
One responder could be heard saying: "If anybody has access to the interpreter app on the phones, can you please start this way? Because we need a sign language interpreter."
Dispatch records indicated Hottle was unconscious when emergency crews arrived.
Officials also noted she was visiting Maryland from out of state, while the friend traveling with her did not have contact information for her family, making notification more difficult.
The investigation into the collision remains ongoing under the Frederick County Sheriff's Office Traffic Unit.
Family shares heartbreaking tributes
The late star became known for playing Jia in 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong, starring opposite Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews, before reprising the role in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Her father, Joshua Hottle, first confirmed the tragedy after posting an emotional livestream on Facebook using American Sign Language while he was in Texas.
He explained he received a phone call from Maryland police informing him about the collision before later learning that his daughter's heart had stopped while she was being transported to the hospital.
In an interview with TMZ, Joshua said he was flying to Maryland to bring his daughter home.
He also captioned his Facebook post with the words: "I am taking a flight that I never would like to take."
Hottle's mother, Ketsi Hottle, paid tribute to her daughter in a tearful Instagram video, writing that it had been a "privilege to be" the young actress's mother.
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