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Who was Jaahnavi Kandula? Police car responding to 'high-priority' call mows down student, 23, in Seattle

The officer was on his route to the 700 block of 6th Avenue North, not far from the scene of the accident, to help a man who had overdosed on drugs
PUBLISHED JAN 30, 2023
Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, the daughter of a single-mother schoolteacher in India, was killed in a crosswalk near Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street  (Jaahnavi Kandula,/GoFundMe, Seattle Police Department)
Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, the daughter of a single-mother schoolteacher in India, was killed in a crosswalk near Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street (Jaahnavi Kandula,/GoFundMe, Seattle Police Department)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: A college graduate student was reportedly hit and killed by a speeding Seattle police cruiser responding to a "high-priority" incident near her campus, but cops have refused to place the officer behind the wheel on leave. Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Northeastern University student, was hit by a Seattle police car near the intersection of Dexter Ave N and Thomas St in the South Lake Union area around 8 pm on Monday, January 23.

Seattle Police first said the officer was responding to a call from the Seattle Fire Department, however, a day after the fatal collision they determined it was an accident. The Indian schoolteacher's daughter Kandula was on a crosswalk when the collision occurred. She was given CPR by the police while they waited for Seattle Fire Department medics who then transport her to Harborview, a nearby Medical Center, where she subsequently died, as reported by The New York Post.

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Who was Jaahnavi Kandula?

Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student at Northeastern University's Seattle campus pursuing a master's degree with plans to graduate in December 2023, was the only child of an Indian schoolteacher. She traveled to Seattle from Bengaluru, India in 2021 to enroll in the College of Engineering's Master of Science in Information Systems program. Her devastated mother has been given support through a gofundme.com campaign. By Sunday, January 29, the afternoon, the page had approximately $154,000 in donations.

How did Kandula die?

The officer was on his route to the 700 block of 6th Avenue North, not far from the scene of the accident, to help a man who had overdosed on drugs, according to KIRO 7. However, the person didn't need to be sent to the hospital. According to a man who claimed to have heard the crash, the officer appeared upset after it. “I feel bad for the officer. I can’t imagine how he feels. And I saw the emotion from him, and he seemed pretty bent out of shape about it,” the man told KIRO 7.  A Seattle Police Department spokesperson said, "At this point in the investigation, we have no reason to believe the officer intended to hit that woman."

Following the incident, the Seattle Police Department issued a statement to the DailyMail saying, "We acknowledge that there is understandably tremendous interest in the surrounding facts, but for purposes of both preserving the integrity of the investigation and respecting the family's right to privacy will not be putting out information over and beyond what has already been provided. We will provide all publicly releasable information, including the report, once we are able to do so, and in consultation with the family." The statement added its "deepest condolences to Kandula's family" and called it a "terrible tragedy for everyone involved."

In addition, the young woman's relatives said they were "heartbroken" in a statement to KJR-FM radio. “Jaahnavi’s tragic and untimely death has left her family and community with a huge hole in their hearts that will never be repaired,” the statement said. “She was a daughter to a single mother who teaches elementary school in India.” It added, “In spite of earning less than [$200] per month, her mother educated Jaahnavi and encouraged her to [travel to] the United States hoping Jaahnavi would have a better future and a better life abroad. Her mother’s hopes and dreams are cut short now.”

Dean David Thurman of Northeastern University said in a letter to students, "Jaahnavi demonstrated strong analytical abilities in large-scale data management and a passion for resolving technical issues.  She worked as a Junior Executive at CAMTek Solutions for two years examining technical and artistic outputs.  Additionally, she worked as an Administrative & Events Assistant on the Seattle campus, supporting event management and providing administrative help. Jaahnavi is remembered as a stellar student and a delightful and effervescent human being. She was a close friend to many and friends shared that they loved her bubbly laugh, sense of humor, and infectious personality.  Her loss will be felt deeply by students, staff, and faculty across campus."

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