The city of Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India, who was tragically killed in 2023 when a speeding police officer struck her. Kandula, a master's student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving at 74 mph (119 km/h) in a 25-mph (40 km/h) zone while responding to a drug overdose call. Though Dave had his emergency lights and siren on, his high speed led to the fatal accident.

While the settlement provides financial compensation, King County prosecutors chose not to file felony charges against Officer Dave, citing insufficient evidence to prove that he was deliberately disregarding safety. Dave was fined $5,000 for negligent driving. The incident gained further attention after a body camera recording surfaced, showing another officer, Officer Daniel Auderer, making inappropriate comments about Kandula’s death, suggesting her life had “limited value” and advising the city to "just write a check." Auderer was fired for his insensitive remarks, which led to significant damage to the police department’s reputation. He has since filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination.

The tragic death of Jaahnavi Kandula sparked widespread protests and calls for justice. Diplomats from India sought an investigation into the matter, and public outrage over the incident highlighted concerns about police conduct and accountability. Although the settlement has been reached, the case continues to bring attention to issues surrounding police actions and the need for greater public trust in law enforcement.