Seattle Police Officer Fired After Striking, Killing Graduate Student with Patrol Car

Mar. 15, 2025

Jaahnavi Kandula.Photo: GoFundMe

A Seattle police officer who struck and killed a Northeastern Universitygraduate studentfrom India with his patrol car in 2023 has been fired, police announced this week.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Seattle Police Department Interim Chief Sue Rahr said she decided to fire Dave on Monday, Jan. 6, after finding he violated four police department policies, including knowing how to safely operate a police vehicle.

“I believe the officer did not intend to hurt anyone that night and that he was trying to get to a possible overdose victim as quickly as possible,” Rahr said in the statement. “However, I cannot accept the tragic consequences of his dangerous driving.”

“His positive intent does not mitigate the poor decision that caused the loss of a human life and brought discredit to the Seattle Police Department,” she added.

“She is dead,” Auderer said in the video, before laughing. He could also be heard referring to Kandula as just “a regular person” before saying, “Yeah, just write a check.”

He continued, “$11,000. She was 26 anyway. She had limited value,” he said in the released footage.

Auderer had been the drug-recognition officer assigned to determine whether Dave had been under the influence when he hit Kandula.

Attorneys for Kandula’s family have since filed a lawsuit against the city and Dave, alleging she “experienced terror, severe emotional distress, and severe pain and suffering before dying,” Fox 13 andKOMOreported.

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“Jaahnavi cared deeply for her mom,” organizers wrote in aGoFundMe campaigncreated at the time. “So much so, that in spite of severe homesickness, she came to the States to pursue her dreams and to create a better future for her mom & sister.”

“While Jaahnavi may not be here with us anymore, her dream will live on,” the message continued.

source: people.com