Justice for Jaahnavi: Seattle Reaches $29 Million Settlement With Family of Student Killed by Speeding Police Car

The City of Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India who was struck and killed by a speeding police officer more than three years ago, bringing resolution to a case that sparked international outrage and protests over police accountability.

Kandula was hit by Seattle Police Department Officer Kevin Dave on January 23, 2023, while she was crossing a street in South Lake Union. Dave was driving as fast as 74 mph in a 25-mph zone while responding to a drug overdose call, with his emergency lights on and using his siren at intersections.

According to the Associated Press, Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans said in a statement Wednesday that Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes the financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family. Evans added that Kandula’s life mattered to her family, her friends and to the community.

The impact from Dave’s police SUV knocked Kandula nearly 137 feet, according to an investigation by the King County prosecuting attorney’s office. Dave performed CPR on the woman until other officers and medics arrived. Kandula died that evening at Harborview Medical Center.

According to KOMO News, Kandula’s family released a statement saying: “We are grateful that this chapter has reached a resolution with a settlement of $29 million and 11,000 dollars. While no amount can ever bring Jaahnavi back, we hope this resolution reflects the seriousness of what was lost and underscores the value of her life. She was cherished beyond measure, and her future was full of promise.”

The settlement amount carries symbolic significance. According to CHS Capitol Hill Seattle, the total of $29,011,000 references callous comments made by Seattle Police veteran and union vice president Dan Auderer, who was caught on body-worn video saying “Yeah, just write a check” and “Yeah, $11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.” 

Dash camera video showed Kandula stepping into the road, noticing the speeding car and then apparently trying to beat it across the intersection.

Auderer’s comment outraged department leaders and the community and led to his termination. According to the Spokesman-Review, Auderer has since sued the city for wrongful termination and is asking for $25 million.

Kandula had been working toward a master’s degree in information systems at the Seattle campus of Northeastern University. According to NewsGram, Kandula was from Andhra Pradesh and was about to graduate with her master’s degree in December 2023. She had completed her bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 2019 and was working a part-time job on the Seattle University campus.

Dave was cited for negligent driving and agreed to pay a $5,000 fine. He was fired by the Police Department but not criminally charged, a decision that outraged Kandula’s family. According to the Spokesman-Review, King County prosecutors declined to file felony charges against him, saying they could not prove he was deliberately disregarding safety when he struck Kandula.

According to MyNorthwest, SPD Interim Chief Sue Rahr fired Auderer in the summer of 2024. Officer Dave was also dismissed in January 2025. 

Dash camera video showed Kandula stepping into the road, noticing the speeding car and then apparently trying to beat it across the intersection. According to the Spokesman-Review, Kandula was wearing earbuds when she was hit in an unregulated crosswalk at Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street.

Outrage over Kandula’s death simmered for months in Seattle’s South Asian communities before exploding internationally after the recording of Auderer’s conversation was released. According to the Associated Press, diplomats from India sought an investigation. The city’s civilian watchdog found the comments by Auderer damaged the department’s reputation and undermined public trust.

According to NewsGram, following her tragic death, members of the Hindu community residing in Seattle gathered to offer prayers for Jaahnavi. Around 25 people assembled at Denny Park to perform a puja for Kandula and pray for her peace.

The lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court alleged Kandula “experienced terror, severe emotional distress, and severe pain and suffering before dying.” 

According to the Associated Press, about $20 million of the settlement is expected to be covered by the city’s insurance. The parties filed a notice of settlement in King County Superior Court last Friday, with the local news website PubliCola first reporting the agreement.

According to KOMO News, the settlement comes as the city and former Seattle Police Department officer Kevin Dave face a lawsuit filed by attorneys for Kandula’s family seeking more than $110 million in damages.

This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.