Two days before Seattle announced a $29 million compensation deal for Jaahnavi Kandula’s family, her father, Kandula Srikanth, a police head constable in Andhra Pradesh, passed away due to a heart attack on February 10. Srikanth’s last rites were conducted in Adoni on February 11.
The family refrained from commenting on the compensation, grieving their loss. They were informed about the deal via social media. Additionally, a US official contacted them, inviting them to the US in March.
Jaahnavi, a 23-year-old student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was fatally hit by a speeding police car on January 23, 2023. She was crossing the street when Officer Kevin Dave struck her at a high speed.
The tragic incident led to public outrage when a Seattle police officer was recorded making insensitive remarks about Jaahnavi’s death. The officer, along with Kevin Dave, was subsequently dismissed from the Police Department.
The $29 million settlement, announced on February 12, resolved a $110 million lawsuit filed by Jaahnavi’s family in 2024. City Attorney Erika Evans expressed hope that the settlement would provide some closure to the grieving family.
