Family of student from India struck and killed by officer reaches $29M settlement with Seattle

Kandula’s death ignited outrage, particularly after a recording from another officer’s body camera surfaced in which the officer laughed about the death

A photo of Jaahnavi Kandula is displayed with flowers, Jan. 29, 2023 in Seattle

The city of Seattle has agreed to pay a $29 million settlement to the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was fatally struck by a police officer in 2023.

Officer Kevin Dave was driving at 74 mph in a 25 mph zone when he hit Ms Kandula as she crossed a street. He was responding to a drug overdose call at the time, with his emergency lights activated and siren used at junctions.

“Jaahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family,” City Attorney Erika Evans said in a statement Wednesday. “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends and to our community.”

Kandula had been working toward a master’s degree in information systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University.

Kandula’s death ignited outrage and demonstrations, particularly after a recording from another officer’s body camera surfaced in which the officer laughed and suggested Kandula’s life had “limited value” and the city should “just write a check.”

Protesters march through downtown Seattle after body camera footage was released of a Seattle police officer joking about the death of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old woman hit and killed in January by officer Kevin Dave in a police cruiser, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Seattle (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Diplomats from India sought an investigation. The city’s civilian watchdog found the comments by Officer Daniel Auderer, who was a union leader, damaged the department’s reputation and undermined public trust. Auderer was later fired and has sued the city for wrongful termination. He said his remarks were intended to criticize how attorneys were likely to respond to the death.

The police department also fired the driving officer, who was cited for negligent driving and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. King County prosecutors declined to file felony charges against him, saying they could not prove he was deliberately disregarding safety when he struck Kandula.

About $20 million of the settlement is expected to be covered by the city's insurance.

Attorneys for Kandula's family did not immediately respond to emails or phone calls seeking comment. The parties filed a notice of settlement in King County Superior Court last Friday. The local news website PubliCola first reported about the agreement.