Jaahnavi Kandula’s family receives a Rs 262-crore settlement after she was slain by a US police officer.

In order to resolve a wrongful death case brought by the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was hit and killed by a speeding police officer in January 2023, authorities in Seattle have agreed to pay 29 million USD (Rs 262 crore).

The agreement settles a 2024 lawsuit worth $110 million against the city and Kevin Dave, a former Seattle police officer who was let go last year. The city’s insurance is expected to reimburse about 20 million USD of the settlement. In a statement announcing the settlement, attorney Erika Evans called Kandula’s passing “heartbreaking” and expressed hope that her family would find some peace in the financial arrangement.

“Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered — to her family, her friends and to our community,” Evans said.

On January 23, 2023, Kandula was struck while crossing the street while he was enrolled in Northeastern University’s Seattle campus to pursue a master’s degree in information systems.

Officer Dave drove up to 74 mph in a 25 mph zone while responding to a high-priority overdose incident. He was using his siren occasionally and had his emergency lights on.

Just before she was hit, Kandula was seen trying to cross the street on dashcam footage.She was launched over 100 feet into the air due to the force of the crash.

The prosecutor’s office refused to charge Dave with a crime in February 2024, citing a lack of evidence to establish illegal behavior beyond a reasonable doubt. He was later fired by the police department after receiving a citation for second-degree negligent driving and receiving a $5,000 USD fine.

Outrage was triggered by Kandula’s death, especially after a recording from another officer’s body camera, Daniel Auderer, came to light. In it, he chuckled and said that Kandula’s life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a check.”