Authorities say excessive speed may have contributed to the Maryland car crash that killed Godzilla vs. Kong actor Kaylee Hottle at age 18. Deputies and Frederick County fire and rescue crews responded to the single-vehicle collision shortly before 3 a.m.
Hottle was taken to an area trauma center, where she was pronounced dead. Her father, Joshua Hottle, later said in an American Sign Language video that her heart stopped before she reached the hospital.
The 19-year-old driver was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, while the vehicle’s other passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.
The Honda Left the Road Shortly Before 3 A.M.
According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews were called to the 11400 block of Windsor Road at approximately 2:52 a.m. Investigators said the Honda had been traveling on the two-lane road when it moved off the right side and struck a culvert.
The department identified the driver only as a 19-year-old man from Frederick. Hottle, who lived in Kyle, Texas, and the second passenger were not identified in the initial release beyond their roles in the crash.
Authorities have not disclosed why the vehicle left the road or estimated how fast it was traveling. The sheriff’s office described excessive speed as a suspected contributing factor, not a final determination about the cause of the collision.
No Charges Have Been Announced
The sheriff’s Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate the crash. Officials have asked witnesses and anyone with information about the vehicle’s movements before the collision to contact the investigator assigned to the case.
The sheriff’s office has not announced an arrest, citation or criminal charge against the driver. It has also not released findings concerning impairment, distraction or any other possible factor.
Hottle’s Father Was Traveling to Maryland
Joshua shared his statement from an airport while preparing to travel from Texas to Maryland. He said Hottle’s mother and four siblings were grieving together at home and that he was going to Maryland to bring his daughter’s body back to the family.
“Very grateful for the 18 years we had together and wish we had more,” he said. Hottle’s father also addressed the driver directly in his video, according to the Associated Press. “I have forgiven you,” he said. “Don’t let this incident ruin the rest of your life.”