Seattle officer not charged in fatal crash of Indian grad student

Prosecutors in Washington state will not press felony charges against a Seattle police officer who fatally struck a graduate student from India, Jaahnavi Kandula, in a crosswalk. 

The officer was driving above the speed limit but had his emergency lights on and Kandula may have been wearing wireless earbuds, diminishing her ability to hear the approaching vehicle.

Consequently, the King County prosecutor's office found insufficient evidence to support a vehicular homicide charge. However, it remains a possibility that lesser charges, such as negligent driving, may be filed. The case sparked public outrage when another officer was recorded making callous remarks about Kandula's life. The comments were found to have damaged the department’s reputation, but the legal analysis regarding the decision not to charge the officer responsible for the accident remains unchanged. 

The officer's remarks are being investigated by the Office of Police Accountability, which is responsible for disciplinary proceedings in this matter. The Seattle Police Officers Guild has stated that the comments were taken out of context and were highly insensitive. Kandula, the victim, was a graduate student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus.

Prosecutorial Decision

The decision not to press felony charges against the officer was based on the lack of sufficient evidence to support a vehicular homicide charge. The possibility of lesser charges, such as negligent driving, remains open for consideration.

Public Outcry and Department's Response

The case sparked public outrage due to callous remarks made by another officer about Kandula's life, which led to damage to the department's reputation. The officer's remarks have sparked investigations by the Office of Police Accountability, and the Seattle Police Officers Guild has offered its perspective on the situation.