• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Police union vice president caught laughing over death of student fatally struck by police car

Home> News> US News

Published 09:50 13 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Police union vice president caught laughing over death of student fatally struck by police car

The cruiser struck masters student Jaahnavi Kandula at 74 miles per hour at an intersection on 23 January

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

A police union vice president was caught laughing over the death of student who was fatally struck by a police car.

A Seattle Police Department (SPD) officer's cruiser struck masters student Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, at 74 miles per hour at an intersection on 23 January, according to a case investigation report.

SPD's Daniel Auderer - who was not involved in the January collision and has not been charged with a crime - was caught laughing while responding to an emergency call at the time of the collision.

Advert

Watch below:

Reports suggest that Kandula had the right of way as she crossed a heavily marked crosswalk near her campus in the South Lake Union.

The 23-year-old was then struck by Officer Kevin Dave's cruiser who was responding to a drug overdose call.

Advert

SPD released the body cam footage of Auderer for the 'interest of transparency' - who also happens to be the vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the largest law enforcement labor union in the Northwest.

The footage shows the VP downplay the student's death while on the phone with his colleague, guild President Mike Solan.

Auderer said: "Yeah, just write a check. $11,000. She was 26 [23], anyway. She had limited value.

"I mean, he was going 50 (MPH). That's not out of control. That's not reckless for a trained driver."

Advert

A police union vice president was caught laughing over the death of student who was fatally struck by a police car.
SPD

On Monday (11 September) SPD said in a statement: "While any incident of public concern is under OPA, SPD or OIG review, no City employee should comment, either in their official or personal capacity, in a way that suggests that any factual, policy, or legal conclusions have been reached about the incident.

"Recognizing the public concern around this video, SPD is putting out this video in the interest of transparency, but consistent with City law, SPD reserves any comment on the substance pending the completion of OPA’s investigation.

"SPD has been in touch with the family of the victim pedestrian and continues to honor their expressed request for privacy.

Advert

"As others in the accountability system proceed with their work, we again extend our deepest sympathy for this tragic collision.”

Kandula's family also said in a statement: "We are truly heartbroken. Jaahnavi was a brilliant student with a bright future. Jaahnavi's smile was radiant, and her bubbly personality warmed the hearts of every person she came in contact with.

"She had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

"Jaahnavi's tragic and untimely death has left her family and community with a huge hole in their hearts that will never be repaired. She was a daughter to a single mother who teaches elementary school in India.

Advert

"In spite of earning less than 200 USD per month, her mother educated Jaahnavi and encouraged her to the United States hoping Jaahnavi would have a better future and a better life abroad.

"Her mother's hopes and dreams are cut short now."

Student Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, was fatally hit by a police car.
Facebook

Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold said she was 'angry and disappointed to hear the way this detective talked about a fatal collision'.

Advert

During a committee meeting at City Hall on Tuesday (12 September), she said: "As horrifying as this conversation was to hear, I want to also say that I am thankful to police department employees who discovered this and appropriately escalated these comments through their chain of command to the Chief's office."

Co-chairs of the Community Police Commission called the recorded conversation 'heartbreaking and shockingly insensitive'.

UNILAD has contacted SPD for comment.

Featured Image Credit: OpenOversight

Topics: Police, US News

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish has an MA in Multimedia Journalism and is passionate about delivering sarcastic/mildly amusing content. After studying business at undergrad, Anish realised that he’d much prefer getting paid to rant about a topic, rather than to find a solution to it. Apart from that, he loves the ‘Four F’s’, as he calls it - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Seattle cop who fatally hit student faces $110,000,000 lawsuit after being fired
  • Police hunting for dad accused of killing three daughters share sad update on search
  • Police launch investigation after college student dies following 'off-campus fraternity ritual'
  • Body of missing student, 22, found in river after disappearing on her way home from bar as police release update

Choose your content:

4 mins ago
12 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 4 mins ago

    Jason Momoa's girlfriend reacts as fans are left speechless after he shaves off beard for the first time in six years

    Jason Momoa and Adria Arjona went public with their relationship last year

    Celebrity
  • 12 mins ago

    Hulk Hogan's cause of death confirmed as heart attack with records revealing cancer diagnosis

    The WWE star died at the age of 71

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    All female athletes forced to take 'gene test' before World Athletics Championships following Imane Khelif Olympics row

    The new rules are set to come into place on September 1

    News
  • an hour ago

    Black Hawk pilot’s final conversation with instructor before colliding with passenger jet revealed at hearing

    The helicopter and American Airlines passenger plane crashed in January, killing 67 people

    News