Kaylee Hottle and Millie Bobby Brown acting in scenes from the Godzilla movie franchise.
A Tragic Loss for the ‘Godzilla’ Cast
Millie Bobby Brown is mourning the sudden loss of her “Godzilla vs. Kong” co-star, Kaylee Hottle, who died Tuesday at the age of 18.
The “Stranger Things” actress shared her grief on Instagram Stories, posting a black-and-white photo of the young star from their 2021 film.
“I’m so devastated to hear this,” Brown, 22, wrote to her followers following the news of Hottle’s fatal car crash in Maryland. “You will be deeply missed Kaylee.”
Kaylee Hottle standing in the rain in a scene from Godzilla vs. Kong.
Brown and Hottle first worked together playing Madison Russell and Jia, respectively. They reunited three years later to reprise their roles in the franchise’s newest installment, “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.”
Millie Bobby Brown acting alongside Vera Farmiga in the Godzilla franchise.
Fellow co-star Rebecca Hall also paid tribute to the deaf actress. Hall shared behind-the-scenes photos from their time on set, writing, “Devastated to hear this news. My heart goes out to your family.”
Details of the Fatal Crash
Millie Bobby Brown and Julian Dennison in a scene from the Godzilla franchise.
The fatal collision occurred early Tuesday morning in Ijamsville, Maryland. Authorities reported that the vehicle Hottle was traveling in veered off the road and struck a ditch at approximately 3 a.m.
Kaylee Hottle reaching out her hand in a memorable scene from Godzilla vs. Kong.
The Fredrick County Sheriff’s Department stated in a press release that a 19-year-old was driving the 1995 Honda Accord.
The car reportedly “traveled off the right side of the two-lane roadway and struck a culvert.” Investigators believe excessive speed contributed to the deadly collision.
While Hottle lost her life, the driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. A third passenger in the vehicle declined medical assistance at the scene.
A Father’s Heartbreak
Kaylee Hottle portraying the character Jia on screen.
The public learned of the teenager’s passing when her father, Joshua Hottle, posted an emotional video on Facebook. He shared that he was flying from Texas to Maryland to claim his daughter’s body.
In the video, he explained receiving the initial devastating phone call about the accident. Shortly afterward, a second call informed him that Kaylee’s heart had stopped while she was en route to a local trauma center.
Kaylee Hottle smiling on the red carpet at a movie premiere event.
Local authorities are continuing to investigate the exact circumstances that led up to the crash.
