The family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student who died after being hit by a speeding police vehicle in Seattle, has reached a settlement of $29 million (about ₹260 million), the AP agency reported. Nearly $20 million of the settlement will be paid through city insurance, according to the report.
Commenting on the settlement, City Attorney Erika Evans told the AP: “The death of Jaahnavi Kandula was heartbreaking and the city hopes this financial settlement will bring some sense of closure to the Kandula family.”
She added: “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. Her family, her friends and our community mattered.”
What happened to Jaahnavi Kandula?
Jaahnavi Kandula was killed on January 23, 2023 while crossing a street in Seattle. She was hit by a police car driven by Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to an emergency call about an overdose.
The investigation revealed that the officer was traveling at 74 mph (119 km/h) at the time of the crash. The impact threw Kandula nearly 100 feet and caused fatal injuries.
Bodycam video sparks outrage
The case sparked widespread public outrage after body camera footage emerged of another officer, Daniel Auderer, speaking after the crash.
In the video, Auderer could be heard laughing as he described the incident, saying, “Uh, I think she went up on the hood, hit the windshield, and then when he hit the brakes, she flew out of the car… But she’s dead.”
His laugh, which lasted a few seconds, led to strong condemnation from the public and within the police department.
Police department response
Interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr addressed the issue in an internal email, calling the damage caused by Auderer’s comments “irreparable.” She said his actions brought shame on the department.
Rahr stated that allowing him to remain in the service would further damage the reputation of the force, which ultimately led to his dismissal.
The university honors Kandula
After her death, Kandula was honored by Northeastern University, which awarded her a posthumous master’s degree. The institution recognized her academic achievements and the impact she had on the community.