On Wednesday, 11th February, the city of Seattle, Washington, in the US, agreed to pay $29 million (around ₹262 crore) to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was killed in a crash involving a police vehicle in 2023. Kandula was struck by a speeding police officer while she was crossing a street in Seattle
"Her Life Mattered": 3 Years After Indian Student Death, A Response From US https://t.co/0pt6GNHx82 pic.twitter.com/O8INK8Msdh
— NDTV WORLD (@NDTVWORLD) February 12, 2026
Kandula is originally from Andhra Pradesh in India. She moved to the United States from Bengaluru in 2021 under a student exchange programme and was expected to graduate this December.
Officer Kevin Dave was travelling at a speed of almost 119 km/h (74 mph) in a zone intended for 40 km/h (25 mph) as he was responding to a drug overdose call. His vehicle hit Kandula while she was crossing the street. Reports stated that he had turned on his emergency lights and was using his siren at intersections. But the speed at which he was travelling became a major point of concern after the accident.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 11th February, Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans said Kandula’s death was “heartbreaking” and expressed hope that the financial settlement would bring some closure to her family. “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends and to our community,” she said.
Kandula was pursuing a master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus at the time of her death. Her family’s lawyers have not publicly commented on the settlement so far. A formal notice of settlement was filed in King County Superior Court last week.
Public outrage and department action
The case sparked widespread outrage, especially after body camera footage from another officer surfaced. In the recording, Officer Daniel Auderer was heard laughing and making remarks suggesting Kandula’s life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a check.” The comments led to protests and drew criticism from the public and Indian diplomats, who called for a proper investigation.
A civilian watchdog later concluded that Auderer’s remarks harmed the department’s image and damaged public trust. He was eventually fired but has since filed a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination. He has said his comments were meant as criticism of how legal cases are typically handled.
Officer Kevin Dave was also dismissed from the police department. He was cited for negligent driving and fined $5,000. However, prosecutors decided not to file felony charges, stating they could not prove he had intentionally ignored safety rules.
Of the $29 million settlement, about $20 million is expected to be paid through the city’s insurance coverage.
