A fatal crash involving an Indian graduate student in Seattle will not result in charges against the police officer involved, prosecutors announced this week.Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, died after being struck at high speed by a police vehicle on 23 January. The King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said evidence is insufficient under state law to convict Officer Kevin Dave.In a statement, prosecutors called Kandulas death heartbreaking for communities locally and abroad. Dave was driving 119kph while responding to a drug overdose call when his car hit Kandula as she crossed the street.Body camera footage showed Officer Daniel Auderer, uninvolved in the collision, laughing about the incident on the phone. She is dead, Auderer said, adding the victim was 26 anyway and had limited value.The prosecutors office slammed Auderers appalling and deeply troubling remarks as unprofessional and damaging to public trust. But they said the comments do not factor into their legal analysis of Daves actions.Auderer now faces discipline, including possible termination, for the insensitive footage. He was recently reassigned to a non-patrol position.Local reports indicate Daves speed prevented seeing and reacting to Kandula in time. He had emergency lights activated but did not continuously sound his siren at the intersection.In memos, prosecutors told police they lacked evidence Dave showed conscious disregard for others safety. A drug expert found no impairment.Kandula was a graduate student at Northeastern Universitys Seattle campus. The school said it will posthumously award her degree to family members.
