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 won her fans almost overnight. Friends say they remain in disbelief. She kept acting after the film, though picking up mostly smaller roles. The crash happened weeks before the news broke publicly on July 21, 2026. Large news desks ran the story in short order.