Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
International

Bodycam footage shows US cop fatally hit Indian student in Jan 2023

Darpan News Desk IANS, 24 Jul, 2023 11:14 AM
  • Bodycam footage shows US cop fatally hit Indian student in Jan 2023

New York, July 24 (IANS) A speeding cop, who struck and killed a 23-year-old Indian student in January this year, has admitted in newly-released bodycam footage that he “f–ked up” after the tragic crash in Seattle.

Jaahnavi Kandula, a student of Northeastern University campus in South Lake Union, was walking near Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street when she was hit by a Seattle Police vehicle driven by Kevin Dave on January 23.

Dave, who was responding to a “high priority” call that day at 8 pm, had chirped his siren, but did not have it running consistently, as he plowed into Kandula, The New York Post reported.

Prosecutors, who released the footage, were weighing charges against Dave for his failure to deploy his siren to “warn others of the emergency nature of the situation,” as required by police protocol.

“I f–ked up,” Dave was heard saying after the accident at the intersection where he accelerated up to 74 miles per hour at one point, much higher than the prescribed limits of 25 and 20 mph respectively.

According to the footage, moments after reaching the top speed, he slowed down the car before striking Kandula at the intersection.

The bodycam video also showed Dave performing CPR on Kandula after the collision.

“Lights were on. I was chirping the sirens…she was in the crosswalk. She saw me, she started running through the crosswalk. Slammed on my breaks. Started staying back where she should before crossing,” Dave can be heard in the video telling a responding officer, according to The Post.

“I can have a hundred minutes. I could have…there’s nothing for me to do right now, but sit. And that is the f–king worst thing that…you just have to sit here. So many questions that are unanswered, so many questions,” he can be heard saying in other bodycam footage.

Officials with the county prosecutor's office said a decision on possible charges will likely come by early August.

Just after the accident, Seattle Police Department spokesperson Detective Valerie Carson had said that "at this point in the investigation, we have no reason to believe the officer intended to hit that woman".

Carson, without naming Dave then, had further said that Kandula's death will not be investigated as a use of force case.

Kandula came to the US in 2021 and was pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at the College of Engineering, Northeastern University.

Daughter of a single mother who earned less than $200 a month and had taken an education loan, Kandula was set to graduate this December.

The Seattle Police Department had expressed its “deepest condolences to Kandula’s family, and called it “a terrible tragedy for everyone involved”.

MORE International ARTICLES

Two Indian expats killed in separate accidents in UAE: Report

Two Indian expats killed in separate accidents in UAE: Report
Sharjah-based Abhilash, 38, had gone boating with his colleagues in Khor Fakkan when the accident took place.  Three other people, including a child, were injured in the accident with at least one of them in critical condition, the Sharjah Police said on Monday.

Two Indian expats killed in separate accidents in UAE: Report

Body of missing Indian-American software engineer found

Body of missing Indian-American software engineer found
The body of a 30-year-old Indian American software engineer, who went missing on April 9, has been recovered from a small lake in Maryland, police said.  The deceased, Ankit Bagai, was found in Lake Churchill on Tuesday by officers who were called to the area after a body was reportedly seen in the water.

Body of missing Indian-American software engineer found

Australian university denies ban on applications from Indian students

Australian university denies ban on applications from Indian students
It was reported that UOW was one of the five universities that had placed ban or restriction on students from some Indian states in response to a surge in fraudulent applications seeking to work, and not study, in the country.

Australian university denies ban on applications from Indian students

Police arrest 17 Sikhs for California gurdwara shootings

Police arrest 17 Sikhs for California gurdwara shootings
According to ABC News, Karandeep Singh, Pardeep Singh, Pavittar Singh, Husandeep Singh, Sahajpreet Singh, Harkirat Singh, Tirath Ram, Dharamvir Singh, Jobanjit Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Nitish Kaushal, Gurminder Singh Kang, Devender Singh, Karambir Gill, Rajeev Ranjan, Jobanpreet Singh and Singh Dhesi, were arrested for felony.

Police arrest 17 Sikhs for California gurdwara shootings

Indian couple who died in Dubai fire was preparing iftar meal for neighbours

Indian couple who died in Dubai fire was preparing iftar meal for neighbours
Rijesh Kalangadan, 38, and his wife Jeshi Kandamangalath, 32, were preparing Vishu sadhya, a festival meal, for their neighbours to end their fast on Saturday evening, the Gulf News reported. At least 16 people were killed and nine others injured in the blaze in Al Ras area, which Dubai Civil Defence attributed to a lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements.

Indian couple who died in Dubai fire was preparing iftar meal for neighbours

UK Parliament watchdog opens investigation into PM Rishi Sunak

UK Parliament watchdog opens investigation into PM Rishi Sunak
Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty, is listed as a shareholder in Koru Kids, which is among six private childcare providers likely to benefit from a pilot scheme proposed in last month's budget to incentivise people to become childminders, with 1,200 pounds offered to those who train through the agency, The Guardian reported.

UK Parliament watchdog opens investigation into PM Rishi Sunak