Seattle to Pay $29 Million to Family of Student Killed by Speeding Officer

The City of Seattle has agreed to pay $29 million to the family of 23‑year‑old Jaahnavi Kandula, an Indian graduate student who was fatally struck in 2023 by Officer Kevin Dave as he drove up to 74 mph in a 25‑mph zone responding to an overdose call. A notice of settlement was filed in King County Superior Court last week, with roughly $20 million expected to be covered by the city’s insurance. Dave, who had his lights on and used his siren at intersections, was later fired, cited for negligent driving, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after prosecutors declined felony charges, saying they could not prove he deliberately disregarded safety. Public outrage intensified when body‑camera audio captured union official Officer Daniel Auderer laughing about the death and saying Kandula’s life had "limited value" and the city should "just write a check"; he too was fired and is suing for wrongful termination. The case has drawn protests, diplomatic concern from India, and renewed scrutiny of police driving policies and accountability for deadly conduct by officers. The settlement, among the largest of its kind, will be read nationally as another expensive reminder that cities end up buying their way out of misconduct that should have been prevented in the first place.