Curated By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar
Last Updated: September 14, 2023, 16:05 IST
Seattle, Washington State, USA
A photo of Jaahnavi Kandula is displayed with flowers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 in Seattle, at the intersection where she was killed by a Seattle Police officer driving north while responding to a nearby medical incident. (AP photo)
A report by the Seattle Times revealed that Kevin Dave, the cop who struck Jaahnavi Kandula, was driving at 119 kilometres per hour.
Jahnaavi Kandula was flung at least 100 feet away on impact when officer Kevin Dave struck her while she was crossing a street in Seattle. Jahnaavi’s death has led to widespread condemnation from Indians living in the United States as well as from residents of Seattle.
Jaahnavi was not jaywalking and was walking on the zebra crossing (aka crosswalk in the US) when Kevin Dave’s car, averaging at 119 kilometres per hour, hit her and led to her death.
Kandula succumbed to her injuries at the Harborview Medical Centre.
According to local media reports, officer Dave was travelling at 119 kilometres per hour in a street where the speed limit was 40 km per hour. The preliminary inquiry also outlined the speed of the vehicle was the main reason for the collision.
The cop hit the brakes milliseconds before it hit the student. “The speed at which Officer Dave was travelling did not allow [Kandula] or him sufficient time to detect, address and avoid a hazard that presented itself,” the police report said.
Police officials said the officer was responding to a 911 call from someone who they assumed was overdosing on drugs.
However, a body cam footage released in the aftermath of the accident where another officer is seen mocking the death of the student has led to widespread condemnation of police in Seattle and the US.
During the conversation, an officer, Daniel Auderer, who is also the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, is heard saying that the girl’s life was of “limited value” and that the city should write a check, referring to a possible compensation for her kin.
Seattle City Mayor Bruce Harrell was quick to condemn the police officer for his remarks. “We recognise that Jaahnavi’s death is a loss for our whole community the loss of a young woman who had so much life ahead of her to do amazing things and share that joy with loved ones,” Harrell said, addressing Kandula’s family.
The Indian authorities in the US have also condemned the police officer for his insensitive comments. “Recent reports including in the media of the handling of Ms Jaahnavi Kandula’s death in a road accident in Seattle in January are deeply troubling,” the Indian Embassy in San Francisco said.
“We have taken up the matter strongly with local authorities in Seattle and Washington State as well as senior officials in Washington DC for a thorough investigation and action against those involved in this tragic case. The Consulate & Embassy will continue to closely follow up on this matter with all concerned authorities,” the consulate said.
