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A Seattle Police Officer Seattle’s interim police chief announced Monday that he struck and killed a graduate student from India in January 2023 with his car while responding to an overdose call.
Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr wrote in an email to employees that she fired Kevin Dave after the Seattle Police Department determined he violated four department policies, including one that requires officers to be responsible for safe driving a patrol car in connection with the death of Yaahnavi Kandul, according to The Seattle Times.
“I believe that the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night and that he was trying to get to the possible overdose victim as quickly as possible,” Rar wrote.
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Photo of Jahnavi Kandula displayed with flowers, January 29, 2023. in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
“However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving,” she continued. “His positive intentions do not mitigate the bad decision that led to loss of life and discredit to the Seattle Police Department.”
Rar’s statement comes nearly a year after the King County Prosecutor’s Office announced it had dropped the case felony charges against Dave due to insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Dave knowingly disregarded safety when he struck and killed Kandula.
The Seattle City Attorney’s Office later fined Dave $5,000 for negligent driving.
Seattle prosecutors fined Dave $5,000 for negligent driving. (iStock)
City prosecutors said Dave was driving 74 mph on the street with a 25 mph speed limit before hitting Kandula. Dave initially contested the fine before recently agreeing to pay the fine, take an eight-hour road safety course within a year and complete 40 hours of community service by September 30.
Kandula’s death sparked outrage in the US and India, especially after footage from another officer’s body-worn camera was released. On the tape, that officer, Daniel Oderer, laughed and suggested Kandula’s life had “limited value” and the city should “just write a check.”
Diplomats from India called for an investigation, and a Seattle citizen watchdog said comments by Oderer, who was a union leader, hurt police department reputation and undermined public trust.
City prosecutors said Dave was driving 74 mph on the street with a 25 mph speed limit before hitting Kandula. (Seattle Police Department / File)
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Oderer was eventually fired for the comments.
Kandula’s family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Dave and the city, alleging that Kandula suffered severe emotional distress, pain and suffering before dying of her injuries. The family said it wanted $110 million plus $11,000 in damages. The trial is scheduled to begin in September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
