Death of Jaahnavi Kandula

The death of Jaahnavi Kandula (1999 – January 23, 2023) occurred in Seattle, Washington on January 23, 2023, when Seattle Police Department officer Kevin Dave hit her in his police vehicle as she crossed the street in a marked crosswalk.[1][2] Kandula was a graduate student from India at Northeastern University's Seattle campus preparing to graduate with a master's in Information Systems in December 2023. Dave was driving 74 miles per hour (119 km/h) without a continuous siren while responding to a drug overdose call, and the street had a normal speed limit of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). Kandula died after the collision threw her 138 feet (42 m).[3][4]

On September 11, 2023, the Police Department released body camera footage of Seattle Police Department officer Daniel Auderer—the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild— laughing making jokes about the situation shortly after evaluating Dave for potential impairment during the fatal collision. Auderer was on a phone call with police union president Mike Solan, and he said that Kandula had "limited value" so the city should "just write a check [for] $11,000".[5] The footage was forwarded to the Seattle Office of Police Accountability and an investigation into Auderer's conduct was opened; the King County Prosecuting Attorney also announced a criminal review of Dave's actions.[6] The released footage prompted condemnation and the Consulate General of India in San Francisco stated that the footage was "deeply troubling" and called for an investigation.[7][8]

On September 13, 2023, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell released a condolence letter written to Kandula's family.[9]

References
  1. Kroman, David (January 25, 2023). "Family of pedestrian struck, killed by Seattle cop seeks details". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  2. Janyala, Sreenivas (September 15, 2023). "'She dared to dream big but her life was cut short': Video of US cop laughing at Andhra student Jaahnavi's death reopens family's wounds". The Indian Express. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  3. Beekman, Daniel (June 20, 2023). "Seattle police officer was driving 74 mph before he hit, killed pedestrian". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  4. Nguyen, Thao (September 13, 2023). "Watchdogs probe Seattle police union chiefs for saying woman killed had 'limited value'". USA Today. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  5. Levin, Sam (September 13, 2023). "Police union leader said woman killed by Seattle officer 'had limited value'". The Guardian. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  6. Paget, Sharif (September 14, 2023). "Seattle police officer under investigation as footage shows him saying woman's life had 'limited value' after she was fatally hit by police car". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  7. Phair, Vonnai (September 14, 2023). "Seattle rally planned for Jaahnavi Kandula amid outrage over cop's jokes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  8. "Priyanka Chopra reacts to Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula's death in US: A life is a life. One can't put any value on it". Hindustan times.
  9. Harrell, Bruce (September 13, 2023). "Mayor Harrell Letter to Kandula Family" (PDF). harrell.seattle.gov.


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