Kaylee Hottle was just 18 years old when a car crash in California claimed her life last month. She played young Jia in the 2021 monster movie Godzilla vs. Kong. The role made audiences love her right away. Friends say they still cannot accept it happened. She kept acting after the film, though taking on quieter parts. The crash happened weeks before the news came to light on July 21, 2026. Major outlets ran the story without delay.