The family of a 23-year-old Indian student killed by a speeding police officer in Seattle has secured a $29 million (around Rs 260 crore) settlement, news agency AP reported.“Jaahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family,” AP quoted city attorney Erika Evans as saying. “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends and to our community,” the statement added.
Nearly $20 million of the settlement amount is expected to be covered by the city’s insurance.What is the case about?Jaahnavi Kandula was struck and killed on January 23, 2023, while crossing a street in Seattle. Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to an emergency overdose call, was driving at 74 mph (119 km/h) when he hit her. The force of the collision threw Kandula nearly 100 feet, resulting in her death.The case drew widespread outrage after body camera footage surfaced showing comments made by another officer, Daniel Auderer, following the crash. In the recording, Auderer was heard laughing while describing the incident, saying, “Uh, I think she went up on the hood, hit the windshield, and then when he hit the brakes, flew off the car… But she is dead.” His laughter, which lasted several seconds, sparked public anger and condemnation within the police department.In response, Seattle’s interim police chief Sue Rahr addressed the issue in an internal email, calling the harm caused by Auderer’s words “irreparable” and stating that his actions had brought shame to the police force. She said allowing him to remain employed would further damage the department’s reputation, ultimately leading to his dismissal.Kandula was later honoured by Northeastern University, which awarded her a posthumous master’s degree in recognition of her academic achievements and her impact on the community.
