Seattle police officer who fatally struck Indian student has been fired

A Seattle police officer who hit and killed a 23-year-old student from India in a crosswalk nearly two years ago has been fired for dangerous driving, city officials said on Tuesday.

Police officer Kevin Dave was driving 74 mph (119 kph) in a 25 mph (40 kph) zone when he fatally struck graduate student Jaahnavi Kandula in January 2023 as she was walking in the city's South Lake Union neighborhood, police said.

The Seattle Office of Police Accountability found that Dave, who was on his way to the scene of a reported drug overdose, violated four policies including a requirement to operate police vehicles safely, interim Police Chief Sue Rahr said in an email to department staff about his firing on Monday.

Rahr said she did not believe Dave intended to hurt anyone as he rushed to the suspected overdose victim.

"However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving," Rahr said in the email, which the department released on Tuesday. Dave could not immediately be reached for comment.

The case sparked outrage and international media attention after body cam footage captured another police officer who was following up on the accident, Daniel Auderer, laughing and saying that Kandula's life had "limited value."

Auderer, who was fired in July 2024, said his comments were taken out of context. The police accountability office found last year that he violated professional standards and prohibitions against prejudice and derogatory language.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said he supported Rahr's decision to fire Dave and hoped it would help "rebuild trust in our police department."

Kandula's family has sued the city and Dave, seeking $110 million in damages. Dave in December agreed to pay a $5,000 fine after the city charged him with second-degree negligent driving. Prosecutors had said that evidence did not support criminal charges.

Reuters