SEATTLE — The case involving a woman struck and killed by a Seattle police vehicle is being treated the same as "any fatal collision investigation," according to police Chief Adrian Diaz.
The collision that left 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula dead is being investigated by the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad.
"The detectives in this squad are highly trained and certified in areas of physics, human factors, and other specialized matters specific to collision reconstruction," a statement from Diaz reads. "Their investigation includes, for example, calculations as to vehicle operation and speed, lines of sight, lighting, roadway and traffic conditions, witness observations, any camera footage in the area, and any other material factors."
On Jan. 23, officers responded to the scene at Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street after 8 p.m., according to police. Kandula was crossing from east to west in the crosswalk when she was hit by a police vehicle.
Officers provided CPR to her until Seattle Fire Department medics arrived and took her to Harborview Medical Center, where she later died.
At the time of the collision, the officer driving the vehicle was responding to a Priority 1 call as an EMT. His emergency lights were on and he was using his siren as he went through intersections, according to Diaz. The officer has been with the Seattle Police Department since 2019.
A drug recognition expert responded to the scene and found no impairment in the officer, according to Diaz.
The report by the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad will be provided to the King County Prosecutor's Office, which will make any charging decisions.
The Office of Police Accountability has opened an investigation into whether the officer complied with policy.