The family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student from Andhra Pradesh who died in a police vehicle crash in the United States in 2023, has suffered another tragedy after her father passed away just days before a 29 million USD (₹246 crore) compensation settlement was announced.
A relative told media that her father, Kandula Srikanth, a retired police constable, died of a heart attack on February 10 in Kurnool district. His last rites were performed on Wednesday in Adoni. The family is currently in mourning, and relatives said it was not appropriate to speak about the settlement at this time.
Jaahnavi was pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus when the accident occurred.
She was killed on January 23, 2023, after being struck by a speeding police vehicle in Seattle while crossing Dexter Avenue at Thomas Street. According to reports, Seattle Police Department officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to a drug overdose call, hit her while driving at nearly three times the speed limit in a 40 kmph zone.
The city of Seattle recently reached a 29 million USD settlement with her family, nearly three years after the fatal crash. The settlement was finalised last week by the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.
Jaahnavi’s parents, Vijaya Laksmi Gundapuneedi and Sreekanth Kandula, had filed a lawsuit in September 2024 seeking 110 million USD (approximately ₹933 crore) in damages.
“Jaahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family,” City Attorney Erika Evans said in a statement. “We also recognise that her loss has left unimaginable pain. Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, to her friends, and to our community.”
The case had drawn international attention after body camera footage surfaced showing another Seattle police officer, Daniel Auderer, making insensitive remarks while discussing the incident. In the footage, he was heard laughing and commenting on the crash, which sparked widespread criticism.
Also read: ₹246-cr granted to family of Andhra student in US
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