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Seattle officer fired
Seattle police officer Kevin Dave has been fired after striking and killing Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula with his patrol vehicle in January 2023. At the time of the incident, Dave was responding to a report of a possible drug overdose and was driving at over 119 km/h (approximately 74 mph) when he hit Kandula, who was crossing the street.
In Short
- Jaahnavi Kandula from Andhra died after being hit by speeding police car
- Officer Kevin Dave was driving the patrol car at 119 kmph
- Police say act was unintentional, but tragic
Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from Andhra Pradesh, was thrown about 100 feet upon impact. The Seattle Police Department stated that while the incident was not intentional, they could not overlook the tragic consequences of the officer’s dangerous driving. Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr commented, “I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night… However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving.”
The incident sparked significant outrage, especially after body camera footage revealed another officer, Daniel Auderer, laughing and suggesting that Kandula’s life had “limited value.” Auderer has since been fired from the police force.
Initially, King County prosecutors found insufficient evidence to charge Dave criminally, stating they could not prove he consciously disregarded safety. However, he was later fined $5,000 for negligent driving. The case has raised serious concerns about police conduct and accountability in Seattle.
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