Janhvi Kandula, Indian student, 3 years after death US Seattle Police settle with family
Los Angeles/Feb 11, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/A.Gary Singh
SEATTLE, WA - The city of Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of 23-year-old Indian student Janhvi Kandula, who was struck by a speeding police vehicle in January 2023.
Kandula, a graduate student from Andhra Pradesh, India, was crossing Dexter Avenue at Thomas Street in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood when she was struck by a patrol car driven by Officer Kevin Dave. Dave was responding to a drug overdose call, traveling at 74 mph in a 25-mph zone without a siren on. Kandula was thrown over 100 feet and died at the scene.
In September 2024, Kandula's parents filed a lawsuit against the city of Seattle and Officer Dave, seeking $110 million in damages, plus an additional $11,000. The additional amount cited a bodycam recording in which Officer Daniel Auderer, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, was heard laughing and suggesting that Kandula's life had a "limited value," estimated at $11,000.
The incident led to significant disciplinary actions within the Seattle Police Department. Officer Dave was fired in January 2025 after an internal investigation found that he had failed to drive with due care for public safety. Officer Auderer was fired in July 2024 for his insensitive comments. Auderer has filed a $20 million wrongful termination claim against the city.
Seattle City Attorney Erica Evans expressed hope that the settlement will bring some closure to Kandula's family, saying, "Janhvi Kandula's life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends and our community."
The case has prompted calls for broader police reform and raised concerns about hiring practices within law enforcement agencies. It was revealed that Officer Dave had a history of abuse during his tenure with the Tucson Police Department before joining the Seattle force.
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