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Seattle Police officer fired over Jaahanvi Kandula death
Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from Northeastern University originally from Andhra Pradesh, India, was crossing a South Lake Union intersection on Jan.23,2023, when she was hit by Dave's speeding cruiser.
Jaahanvi Kandula / Image- GoFundMe
Interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr announced on Jan. 6 the dismissal of Officer Kevin Dave, nearly two years after his patrol vehicle fatally struck Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula in Jan 2023.
The decision follows an investigation by the Seattle Office of Police Accountability, which found Dave violated four department policies during the incident, Seattle Times reported.
Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from Northeastern University originally from Andhra Pradesh, India, was crossing a South Lake Union intersection on Jan.23,2023, when she was hit by Dave's speeding cruiser. The officer was responding to a drug overdose call, traveling at 74 mph in a 25 mph zone. Kandula had the right of way at the crosswalk when the impact threw her nearly 140 feet, leading to fatal injuries.
“I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night and that he was trying to get to a possible overdose victim as quickly as possible,” chief Rahr stated in an email to department employees according to Seattle Times.
“However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving. His positive intent does not mitigate the poor decision that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department.”
The investigation concluded that Dave failed to use emergency lights and neglected his responsibility to operate his patrol vehicle safely. Despite contesting a $5,000 citation for second-degree negligent driving earlier this year, Dave later agreed to pay the fine, complete traffic safety training, and perform 40 hours of community service.
The tragedy gained international attention when a body-camera recording of officer Daniel Auderer, a colleague of Dave’s, was made public in September 2023. In the footage, Auderer mocked Kandula’s death, describing her life as having “limited value” and suggesting the city pay a mere $11,000 in damages. Auderer’s comments drew widespread outrage, culminating in his termination in July 2024.
Kandula’s family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Seattle and Officer Dave, seeking $110 million in damages. The suit alleges that Kandula endured severe emotional and physical suffering before succumbing to her injuries. The trial is scheduled for September 2025.
The Seattle Police Department continues to face scrutiny over the incident and its broader accountability practices.
While King County prosecutors declined to pursue criminal charges against Dave in February 2024, citing no evidence of reckless intent or impairment, the fallout from Kandula’s death continues to reverberate within Seattle and beyond.
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