USA (Commonwealth Union)_ The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $29 million (about Rs 260 crore) to the family of a 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was killed after being struck by a police vehicle. Jaahnavi Kandula was crossing a street in January 2023 when she was hit by a patrol car driven by Officer Kevin Dave. Authorities said the officer was responding to a drug overdose emergency and was traveling at speeds reaching 74 miles per hour in a zone where the limit was 25 mph. His emergency lights were activated, and he had used his siren while passing through intersections.
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In a latest statement, City Attorney Ann Davison said the agreement was meant to offer some measure of comfort to Kandula’s grieving family. She described the young student’s death as a tragedy and said her life held deep meaning for her loved ones and the wider community. Kandula had moved from India to pursue higher education and was enrolled in a master’s program in information systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University. Friends and classmates remembered her as focused and ambitious, with plans to build a career in technology.
The settlement was formally filed in King County Superior Court last week. News of the agreement was first reported by PubliCola. Lawyers representing Kandula’s family did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Her death sparked widespread anger in Seattle and beyond, especially after body camera footage revealed another officer making insensitive remarks about the incident. The comments drew sharp criticism from community leaders and prompted calls for accountability.
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An internal review later concluded that the remarks had harmed public trust in the police department. The officer who made them was dismissed and has since filed a lawsuit challenging his termination. Officer Dave was also fired. He was cited for negligent driving and fined $5,000. However, prosecutors in King County said they did not have enough evidence to pursue criminal charges, stating they could not prove he acted with criminal intent. City officials said roughly $20 million of the settlement will be paid through insurance coverage.
