Quick Info→
Death Cause: Car Accident
Death Date: 23/01/2023
Age: 23 Years
Some Lesser Known Facts About Jaahnavi Kandula
- Jaahnavi Kandula was an Indian student studying in Seattle, United States. In 2023, she lost her life after she was hit by a car in Seattle. The car was being driven by a police officer named Kevin Dave.
- According to her uncle, she was raised single-handedly by her mother in Andhra Pradesh, India.
- In 2021, Jaahnavi travelled from Bengaluru to the United States as part of a student exchange program.
- On 23 January 2023, she died after she was hit by a patrol car driven by police officer Kevin Dave in Seattle. Reportedly, Dave was driving the car at a high speed of 74 mph (119 kmph) while responding to a high-priority call, when the accident occurred at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street. According to some sources, the impact of the car was so severe that her body was thrown more than 100 feet (30 meters) away from the accident site.
- On 12 September 2023, the Seattle Police Department released a video recorded by the body camera of police officer Daniel Auderer, who was tasked with checking if Dave was under the influence of any substances on 23 January 2023. In the video, Daniel could be heard having a conversation with guild President Mike Solan. Before laughing and referring to Jaahnavi as a regular person, Daniel said,
She is Dead.”
Further, he could be heard saying,
Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars.”
Concluding the call Daniel said,
She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.”
- Following the viral circulation of the video on social media, India raised the matter strongly with US authorities, calling for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of those accountable for the tragedy. On 13 September 2023, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco conveyed deep distress about the incident in a post on X, which read,
Recent reports including in media of the handling of Ms Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling. We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC for a thorough investigation & action against those involved in this tragic case. The Consulate & Embassy will continue to closely follow up on this matter with all concerned authorities.”
Recent reports including in media of the handling of Ms Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling. We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle & Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC
— India in SF (@CGISFO) September 13, 2023
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