The Seattle police officer involved in the tragic collision that claimed the life of 23-year-old Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula will not be facing criminal charges. Kevin Dave, responding to a drug overdose call, struck Kandula at a speed of 120 kmph, causing her instantaneous death.
Despite the tragedy, authorities have cited insufficient evidence as the reason for not pursuing charges. The controversy surrounding the case deepens with bodycam footage revealing an officer's callous remarks, adding fuel to the already contentious situation.
The absence of continuous activation of the siren on January 23, 2023, when Kandula was fatally hit, and the officer's rapid response to a "priority one" call have raised concerns about the safety protocols followed during the incident.
The controversial bodycam footage, featuring Officer Daniel Auderer's callous reaction to the tragedy, has added a layer of indignation to the case. Auderer, not involved in the collision, was heard making insensitive remarks to a colleague on the phone after Kandula's death.
"But she is dead," Auderer said laughing while on the phone. "She was 26 anyway," he said in the video. "She had limited value."
He faces potential termination after being reassigned to a "non-operational position" after massive backlash over his comments. His disciplinary hearing is scheduled for March 4.
Leesa Manion, the Prosecuting Attorney, expressed the difficulty in proving a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt under Washington State law. The decision has left the victim's family, the community, and observers worldwide grappling with a sense of injustice.
Seattle local media reported that the collision's primary cause was the excessive speed at which Officer Dave was traveling, leaving Kandula with insufficient time to react.
She was flung 100 feet after being struck and died instantly.
Northeastern University, where Jaahnavi Kandula was a graduate student, said they would award her degree posthumously and present it to her family.
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