More than two years after a tragic crash that sparked international outrage, authorities in Seattle have agreed to pay 29 million USD (approximately Rs 262 crore) to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was fatally struck by a speeding police vehicle in January 2023.
The settlement resolves a 110 million USD lawsuit filed in 2024 against the City of Seattle and former police officer Kevin Dave, who was dismissed from service last year. Around 20 million USD of the total payout will reportedly be covered by the city’s insurance.
Announcing the agreement, attorney Erika Evans described Kandula’s death as “heartbreaking” and expressed hope that the settlement would provide some degree of closure to the grieving family. “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered to her family, her friends and to our community,” Evans said in a statement.
Kandula was pursuing a master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus when the incident occurred on January 23, 2023. She was crossing the street when Officer Kevin Dave, responding to a high-priority overdose call, struck her with his patrol vehicle. Investigations revealed that Dave was driving at speeds up to 74 mph in a 25 mph zone. Although his emergency lights were activated and he was intermittently using the siren, dashcam footage showed Kandula attempting to cross moments before impact. She was reportedly thrown more than 100 feet due to the force of the collision.
In February 2024, prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges against Dave, citing insufficient evidence to establish criminal wrongdoing beyond a reasonable doubt. He was later cited for second-degree negligent driving and fined 5,000 USD before being terminated from the police department.
The case drew further controversy after a bodycam recording surfaced of another officer, Daniel Auderer, who was heard making insensitive remarks about Kandula’s death, including suggesting her life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a cheque.” The comments triggered widespread condemnation in both the United States and India, prompting India to call for a thorough investigation. Auderer was subsequently fired.
With the 29 million USD settlement, the civil lawsuit has now been resolved. However, the incident continues to resonate in both countries, underscoring ongoing concerns about police accountability and the value placed on human life.
Recent Random Post:
