SEATTLE (AP) - The city of Seattle has announced a significant $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India, who tragically lost her life after being struck by a speeding police officer in 2023. This incident has drawn considerable attention and sparked outrage across the community and beyond.
Jaahnavi Kandula was fatally hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to a drug overdose emergency call at the time. Evidence revealed that he was driving at a staggering speed of 74 mph (119 kph) in a 25 mph (40 kph) zone. Although Officer Dave had his emergency lights activated and had been using his siren at intersections, the excessive speed raised serious concerns regarding the circumstances of the incident.
City Attorney Erika Evans expressed condolences, stating, "Jaahnavi Kandula's death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family." She emphasized that Kandula's life held significant value not just to her family and friends but also to the broader community in Seattle.
Kandula had been pursuing a master’s degree in information systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University, highlighting her dedication to her education and future. The settlement negotiations led to a formal notice filed in King County Superior Court, with the details first reported by the local news outlet PubliCola.
The public response to Kandula’s death was intense, particularly following the surfacing of a recording from Officer Daniel Auderer, another police officer. In the footage, Auderer was heard laughing and suggesting that Kandula’s life had "limited value" and that the city should merely "write a check" for the incident. This insensitive comment provoked widespread anger and protests from the community, along with demands for accountability.
In light of the controversial remarks, the Indian diplomats called for a comprehensive investigation into Kandula's death. A subsequent review by the city's civilian oversight body determined that Auderer's comments deeply damaged the reputation of the police department and significantly eroded public trust. As a result, Auderer was fired from his position and has since filed a lawsuit against the city for wrongful termination, claiming his remarks were misinterpreted as a critique of the legal system's likely response to the incident.
Additionally, Officer Kevin Dave, the driver involved in the incident, was also terminated from the police force. He faced charges of negligent driving and was fined $5,000; however, the King County prosecutors opted not to pursue felony charges against him, citing insufficient evidence to prove that he was deliberately disregarding safety protocols when the accident occurred.
It is expected that approximately $20 million of the settlement amount will be covered by the city’s insurance, which underscores the financial implications of the incident for the city. This settlement is seen as a step towards addressing the significant loss experienced by Kandula’s family and may serve to reinforce the urgency for reforms within the Seattle Police Department.
