Seattle to pay $29M in Kandula case as father dies days before settlement
Seattle to pay $29M in Kandula case as father dies days before settlement
A $29 million settlement in Jaahnavi Kandula's death arrives as her father dies days before the announcement, deepening a family’s grief.
Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian master's student who was killed when a Seattle Police Department vehicle struck her while it sped to an emergency call. Kandula studied Information Systems at Northeastern University Seattle, making her death a painful reminder of the risks pedestrians face in busy urban intersections.
Her family’s tragedy was compounded by a second loss as Kandula’s father, Kandula Srikanth, a retired police constable, died of a heart attack in Adoni, India, just two days before the settlement was announced. His last rites were performed in Adoni, a detail his relatives shared as they mourn. A relative said the family was grieving and it would not be appropriate to speak about the settlement money at that time.
The officer involved in the crash had been fired from the Seattle Police Department, the settlement signaling a formal resolution of civil claims related to the case. Officials say the agreement reflects accountability while acknowledging the enduring pain of a family that has already endured immense loss.
Jaahnavi Kandula, who left Bengaluru to pursue a master’s degree in Seattle, represents the many international students who study in the United States and who face unique safety and accessibility challenges. The settlement dollars are intended to support her family as they navigate grief while seeking long-term remembrance of Kandula’s life and potential.
