Maryland's chief medical examiner has confirmed that 18-year-old deaf actress Kaylee Hottle, who starred in two blockbuster "Godzilla" films, died from multiple blunt force injuries in a single-vehicle crash that authorities say involved excessive speed.

The ruling, released Wednesday, classified Hottle's death as an accident. She had been riding as a passenger in a 1995 Honda Accord that left a two-lane road in Ijamsville, Maryland, before 3 a.m. Tuesday and struck a culvert. Hottle was rushed to a nearby trauma center, where she was pronounced dead. Her father later said her heart stopped before she reached the hospital.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office identified the driver as a 19-year-old man from Frederick, Maryland, and said excessive speed was believed to be a contributing factor. Two passengers were in the car at the time. The driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening. The second passenger declined medical treatment at the scene. Fox News Digital reported the crash remains under investigation, and sheriffs have asked any witnesses to come forward.

An 18-year-old career that broke barriers for deaf actors

Hottle made her feature film debut at age 13 in 2021's "Godzilla vs. Kong," playing Jia, an orphaned girl who forms a bond with the giant ape. She reprised the role in 2024's "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." Both films were global box-office hits, and Hottle, born into a multigenerational deaf family, became one of the most visible young deaf performers in Hollywood.

Before landing those roles, she had appeared in advocacy projects and commercials. Her lone television credit was a 2021 episode of "Magnum P.I." At the time of her death, she was attached to an upcoming thriller titled "What Doesn't Kill Us." Whether that project will move forward remains unclear.

Hollywood has mourned Hottle widely, with prominent actors and members of the deaf community expressing grief online. The entertainment world has suffered a string of painful losses in recent months, including the death of Sam Neill, the beloved "Jurassic Park" star, at 78.

A father's grief, and forgiveness, delivered in sign language

Shortly after learning of his daughter's death, Joshua Hottle posted an emotional video to Facebook, signing his message in American Sign Language. He described a family shattered by sudden loss.

Joshua Hottle signed in the video:

"Kaylee's mom and four siblings are crushed. They are together at home, grieving. I am on my way to Maryland to bring Kaylee's body back home."

He added a line that captured both the weight and the brevity of his daughter's life:

"Very grateful for the 18 years we had together, and wish we had more."

Then he did something remarkable. Joshua Hottle reached out directly to the 19-year-old driver and wrote a message that stood in sharp contrast to the rage most people would feel in his position.

"I have forgiven you. Don't let this incident ruin the rest of your life."

The entertainment industry has seen other frightening moments involving young performers in recent memory, including actress Ruby Rose's hospitalization after a pool fall that left her with broken ribs.

Excessive speed, a 30-year-old car, and unanswered questions

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office laid out the basic mechanics of the crash in a statement. A 1995 Honda Accord, a vehicle more than three decades old, traveled off the right side of a two-lane road and struck a culvert. Three people were inside. One is dead.

Authorities have not named the driver or the second passenger. No charges have been announced. The sheriff's office has not disclosed whether anyone in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt, and it has not released the name of the road where the crash occurred. The investigation is ongoing, and sheriffs have urged potential witnesses to contact them.

The loss of Hottle at 18 adds her name to a grim list of young lives cut short on American roads. She had decades of work ahead of her, a rare deaf actress who had already headlined major studio films and was building toward a career that could have reshaped representation in Hollywood.

Other recent losses have reminded audiences how quickly the industry can lose its most familiar faces, including the passing of "Ted Lasso" and "Buffy" star Anthony Head at 72.

Joshua Hottle's words to the driver who killed his daughter say more about character than any eulogy could. In a culture that rewards public rage, he chose grace, and asked a 19-year-old kid to keep living.