SEATTLE, Wash. (Diya TV) — The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $29 million to the family of an Indian graduate student who died after a speeding police officer struck her in 2023. The settlement closes a painful chapter in a case that sparked public outrage in the United States and India. Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, was crossing a street when Officer Kevin Dave hit her while responding to a drug overdose call. City officials announced the agreement this week. The payment ranks among the largest wrongful death settlements in Seattle’s history.
Seattle officials said the city reached a settlement with Kandula’s family in King County Superior Court. The parties filed a notice of settlement last Friday. City Attorney Erika Evans called Kandula’s death heartbreaking. She said the city hopes the financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the family.
“Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered,” Evans said in a statement. “It mattered to her family, her friends, and to our community.”
About $20 million of the $29 million settlement will come from the city’s insurance coverage. The city will pay the remaining amount. Kandula’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The fatal crash happened in 2023 near the Seattle campus of Northeastern University, where Kandula studied information systems. She had moved from India to pursue her master’s degree. Investigators said Officer Kevin Dave drove as fast as 74 mph in a 25-mph zone. He responded to a drug overdose call at the time. He had activated his emergency lights and used his siren at intersections.
Prosecutors later said they could not prove that Dave deliberately disregarded safety. King County prosecutors declined to file felony charges against him. However, authorities cited him for negligent driving and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. The Seattle Police Department fired Dave after the incident. The high speed of the patrol vehicle raised serious questions about police pursuit and emergency response policies. Many community members demanded greater accountability and safer policing practices.
The case drew widespread anger after another officer’s body camera recording surfaced. In the recording, Officer Daniel Auderer laughed and suggested that Kandula’s life had “limited value.” He also said the city should “just write a check.”
The remarks shocked many people. They fueled protests in Seattle and drew attention from officials in India. Indian diplomats sought a full investigation into the incident.
Seattle’s civilian police watchdog reviewed the comments. The watchdog concluded that Auderer’s remarks damaged the police department’s reputation and undermined public trust. The department later fired Auderer. He has sued the city for wrongful termination. Auderer said he meant to criticize how attorneys might respond to the death, not to mock the victim.
Kandula’s death deeply affected the Indian community in Seattle and across the United States. Many people called for justice and stronger safeguards for pedestrians. The case also carried diplomatic weight. India’s government followed the investigation closely. The incident became a flashpoint in discussions about police accountability and the treatment of international students in the U.S.
Kandula worked toward a master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus. Friends and classmates described her as bright and ambitious. She had traveled from India to build a career in technology.
Her death cut short those plans. The settlement cannot undo the loss. But city leaders say they hope it offers some measure of accountability and closure.
