Jaahnavi Kandula’s family to get $29M settlement from Seattle police
Jaahnavi Kandula’s family to get $29M settlement from Seattle police
Jaahnavi Kandula’s family will receive a $29 million settlement from Seattle after a speeding police vehicle struck the 23-year-old student in January 2023.
The family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student killed when a speeding police vehicle struck her in Seattle in January 2023, will receive a $29 million settlement from the city.
Kandula, who was pursuing a master’s in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, came to the United States from Bengaluru in 2021. She was set to graduate in December 2023.
The crash occurred on Dexter Avenue near Thomas Street as Officer Kevin Dave responded to a drug overdose call, reportedly driving as fast as 74 mph in a 25 mph zone, with the siren only chirping. Dashcam footage showed Kandula crossing a crosswalk at the time of impact, and public reports later highlighted a body-camera clip in which an officer laughed about her death, fueling international attention and a diplomatic uproar.
The city’s settlement follows a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in 2024 seeking about $110 million. Northeastern University Seattle’s Dean David Thurman described Kandula as a “stellar student and a delightful and effervescent human being.” The case underscores concerns about police vehicle speed, accountability, and the broader response to deadly incidents involving officers.
