Northeastern University student, 23, dies after being struck by a police SUV at a crosswalk
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A student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus was struck and killed by a police cruiser responding to a call last week.
Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, was struck by a Seattle Police Department van as she was crossing a heavily marked crosswalk near her campus in the South Lake Union neighborhood.
The officer had been responding to a “priority one” call to provide help to a man who had overdosed on drugs but did not need to be taken to hospital. Police ruled the incident an accident and returned the unidentified officer to duty shortly after the accident. It is not clear if the police car stopped after hitting the student.
Kandula was a graduate student preparing to earn her master’s degree in information systems. Her family remembered her as a ‘brilliant’ person.
Twenty-three-year-old graduate student Jaahnavi Kandula is set to earn her master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University in Seattle
The scene of the accident in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle
Kandula was struck while crossing Dexter Avenue North near where it crosses Thomas Street in Seattle.
The intersection crosswalks are heavily marked with bright yellow reflective markers, a large neon sign, and are surrounded by bike lanes and a wide median.
Officers on scene found Kandula still alive and performed CPR on him until the fire department arrived and took over life-saving efforts.
She was transported to a nearby hospital where she died of her injuries the next day.
Kandula was struck at a heavily marked crosswalk near her college campus.
Kandula was struck while crossing Dexter Avenue North near where it crosses Thomas Street in Seattle
The cops said they were not investigating the crash as a use-of-force case, noting that they did not believe the officer intended to hit Kandula.
“At this point in the investigation, we have no reason to believe that the officer intended to hit this woman,” a Seattle police spokesperson said.
Police declined to name the officer, only disclosing that they had worked for the department since November 2019.
The officer behind the wheel has not been suspended, police said, but was simply told to leave his shift after the accident as a “release day” to deal with a “traumatic or upsetting” experience.
Sirens at the intersection where Kendula was struck by a police officer Monday night
A Seattle police SUV at the intersection where Kandula was struck Monday night
Seattle police said they would withhold information about the police report as soon as they could, and “in consultation” with Kandula’s family.
“We recognize that there is tremendous understandable interest in the surrounding facts, but in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation and respect the family’s right to privacy, we will not release information beyond what has already been provided,” it said. the Department. in a statement to DailyMail.com
“We will provide all information that can be publicly released, including the report, once we are able to do so, and in consultation with the family.”
‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Kandula. This incident is a terrible tragedy for everyone involved,” the department added.
Kandula’s family said her death left a “big hole” in the hearts of those who knew her.
Kandula was studying information systems in Northeastern’s master’s program in Seattle.
Kandula’s family said her death left a “big hole” in the hearts of those who knew her.
‘We are truly heartbroken. Jaahnavi was a brilliant student with a bright future. Jaahnavi’s smile was radiant and his bubbly personality warmed the hearts of everyone he came in contact with. He had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life,” they said in a statement.
Jaahnavi’s tragic and untimely death has left his family and community with a huge hole in their hearts that will never be mended. She was the daughter of a single mother who teaches at a primary school in India. Despite earning less than $200 a month, her mother educated Jaahnavi and encouraged her to travel to the United States in the hope that Jaahnavi would have a better future and life abroad. Her mother’s hopes and dreams are dashed now.
A GoFundMe it was set up to help his family pay the hospital bills in Kandula and to take care of the college loans he took out for his education.