In a tragic incident in Seattle, 23 years’ old Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula, pursuing her master’s degree, lost her life after being struck by a speeding police car while crossing a street on January 23 last year. Despite the severity of the incident, authorities announced police officer Kevin Dave would not face criminal charges due to a purported lack of “sufficient” evidence.
Bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department revealed disturbing remarks made by Officer Daniel Auderer, Dave’s colleague, in the aftermath of the fatal collision. Auderer was heard laughing about the incident and callously dismissing its gravity, stating, “Just write a cheque. US$ 11,000. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.”
Following public outrage over his insensitive comments, Auderer was removed from patrol duty. In his subsequent clarification, Auderer claimed that his remarks were intended as a mockery of the legal system’s handling of such incidents. The asserted he had no knowledge of the victim’s identity at the time of the conversation and expressed regret for any offense caused.
Jaahnavi Kandula, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, had travelled to the United States as part of a student exchange program and was studying at Northeastern University’s South Lake Union campus. Her untimely death shocked and saddened her university community, prompting them to posthumously award her degree and extend condolences to her family.
The tragic incident and subsequent fallout underscored broader concerns about accountability and sensitivity within law enforcement agencies. As investigations continue and calls for transparency grow louder, the memory of Jaahnavi Kandula serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of negligence and the importance of compassion in addressing such tragedies.
