Amaravati, February 13: The city of Seattle has announced a compensation package of $29 million (approximately ₹262 crore) for the family of Jahnavi Kundula. Jahnavi tragically lost her life after being struck by a speeding police car. Just two days prior, her family experienced another devastating event.
Jahnavi’s father, Kundula Srikanth, was a head constable in Andhra Pradesh. He passed away from a cardiac arrest on February 10 in Guntakal, where he was stationed. His funeral took place on February 11 in their hometown of Adoni, Kurnool district.
The family has refrained from commenting on the compensation deal, stating they are still in mourning. They learned about the compensation through social media. Recently, an American official contacted the family, inviting them to the U.S. in March.
At 23, Jahnavi was pursuing a master’s degree in Information Systems at Northeastern University in Seattle. She was struck by the police vehicle while attempting to cross the street on January 23, 2023. Jahnavi was the eldest daughter of Kundula Srikanth and Vijayalakshmi and had moved to the U.S. for higher education in 2021.
The collision was caused by Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to a report of a drug overdose. He was driving at 119 km/h in a 40 km/h zone, with his emergency lights and siren activated.
Dashcam footage revealed that Jahnavi was trying to cross the road just moments before the impact, which was so severe that she was thrown nearly 100 feet into the air.
Bodycam footage from a Seattle police officer surfaced, showing him joking about Jahnavi’s death, sparking outrage and prompting India to call for a thorough investigation by the U.S.
In a video released by the Seattle Police Department, an officer can be heard laughing and joking about the accident.
The settlement announced on February 12 resolves a $110 million lawsuit filed by the family in 2024. City Attorney Erika Evans expressed that Jahnavi Kundula’s death was heartbreaking and hopes this financial settlement provides some relief to the Kundula family. She emphasized that Jahnavi’s life mattered significantly to her family, friends, and the community.
