SEATTLE, Washington: The city of Seattle paid US$29 million to the family of a 23-year-old graduate student from India, who was struck by a speeding police officer as she crossed a street in 2023.

Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving as fast as 74 mph (119 kph) in a 25-mph (40-kph) zone as he responded to a drug overdose call, hit Jaahnavi Kandula. He had his emergency lights on and had been using his siren at intersections.

"Jaahnavi Kandula's death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family," City Attorney Erika Evans said in a statement Wednesday. "Jaahnavi Kandula's life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends, and to our community."

Kandula was studying for a master's degree in information systems at Northeastern University's Seattle campus.

Lawyers for Kandula's family did not respond right away to emails or phone calls seeking comment. Last Friday, both sides filed a settlement notice in King County Superior Court. A local news site, PubliCola, first reported the deal.

Kandula's death caused anger and protests, especially after a body-camera recording showed another police officer laughing and saying Kandula's life had "limited value" and that the city should "just write a check."

Indian diplomats asked for an investigation. A city civilian watchdog said the comments by Officer Daniel Auderer, who was also a union leader, hurt the police department's image and reduced public trust. Auderer was later fired and is now suing the city, saying he was wrongly dismissed. He said his comments were meant to criticize how lawyers might react to the death.

The police department also fired the officer who was driving the vehicle. He was charged with negligent driving and fined $5,000. County prosecutors decided not to file more serious criminal charges because they said they could not prove he intentionally ignored safety when he hit Kandula.

Around $20 million of the settlement is expected to be paid by the city's insurance.