Jaahnavi Kandula, a Northeastern University student, was thrown over 100 feet in the incident, which prosecutors later ruled did not have sufficient evidence for felony charges. The settlement brings some closure to her grieving family.
BY PC Bureau
February 12, 2026: Seattle city authorities have agreed to pay $29 million (₹262 crore) to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student fatally struck by a speeding police officer in January 2023. The settlement brings closure to a case that shocked both the local community and India.
The agreement resolves a $110 million lawsuit filed in 2024 against the city and former Seattle police officer Kevin Dave, who was terminated last year. Approximately $20 million of the payout will be covered by the city’s insurance.
“Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered — to her family, her friends, and to our community,” said lawyer Erika Evans, describing her death as “heartbreaking” and expressing hope the settlement would offer some measure of closure.
In 2023, an Indian student Jaahanvi Kandyle was killed by speeding police car in USA.
Today her family received Rs 260 Cr compensation from authorities.
In India, people fall into sewage pits & die like insects every single day.
Forget compensation- no one ever goes to jail ! pic.twitter.com/SqeUzfmt4x
— Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) February 12, 2026
Kandula, a master’s student in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was struck on January 23, 2023, while crossing a street. Officer Dave, responding to a high-priority overdose call, was driving 74 mph in a 25 mph zone, with emergency lights on and siren intermittently activated.
Dashcam footage captured Kandula attempting to cross the street just before the impact, which threw her more than 100 feet.
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In February 2024, prosecutors declined to file felony charges, citing insufficient evidence of criminal intent. Dave was later cited for second-degree negligent driving, fined $5,000, and terminated from the police department.
Public outrage intensified after a body camera recording surfaced showing officer Daniel Auderer laughing and stating Kandula’s life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a cheque.” Following pressure from India for a thorough investigation, Auderer was fired.
