Jaahnavi Kandula (1997-2023) was an Indian student, who was studying in Seattle, United States. In 2023, she died after being hit by a patrol car driven by police officer Kevin Dave in Seattle.
Wiki/Biography
Jaahnavi Kandula was born in 2000 (age 23 years; at the time of death) in Andhra Pradesh, India. Her mom raised her on her own. In 2021, she went from Bengaluru to the United States for a student exchange program. She was studying for her master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University in South Lake Union in Seattle and was expected to complete her graduation in December 2023
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her mother is an elementary school teacher.
Husband
She was unmarried.
Death
On 23 January 2023, she was killed by a patrol car driven by police officer Kevin Dave in Seattle. Reportedly, Dave was driving the car at 74 mph (119 kmph). He was on his way to an overdose call when his car hit Jaahnavi at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street. According to some sources, her body was thrown a very long distance, more than 100 feet (30 meters) away.
Facts/Trivia
- On 12 September 2023, the Seattle Police Department released a clip on the internet of police officer Daniel Auderer’s body camera, a drug recognition expert, who was given the task of checking if Dave was under the influence of any substances on 23 January 2023. After Daniel got to know that Kevin Dave hit Jaahnavi with his car, he called guild President Mike Solan to report what happened while his body-worn camera was still working. In the footage, Daniel could be heard laughing while saying that she was dead. He referred to her and said that she was a regular person and could not believe that a criminal investigation was taking place for her death. By the end of the clip, he could be heard saying that Dave was going 50 mph, which was not at all fast for a trained driver.
- After the video went viral on social media, India firmly brought up the issue with the US authorities and demanded a thorough investigation and the punishment of those responsible for the incident. On 13 September 2023, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco expressed deep concern 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