Troopers said Zachary Krug was driving more than 100 mph before the April 15 crash in Temple Terrace.
TEMPLE TERRACE, FL — A Temple Terrace police officer was arrested and fired after investigators said he drove more than 100 mph before an April 15 crash that killed a 6-year-old girl and injured three others.
Zachary Mason Krug, 25, surrendered April 30 at the Hillsborough County Jail after a Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide investigation. He faces one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. Temple Terrace officials said Krug was terminated after a separate internal review found he violated department policy, city rules and applicable laws.
The crash happened shortly before 3:45 p.m. April 15 on East Fowler Avenue at North Drive, a busy corridor near homes, businesses and the University of South Florida area. Troopers said a 36-year-old Tampa woman was driving a Nissan Pathfinder eastbound in a turn lane with three children inside, ages 8, 6 and 1. As the woman made a U-turn, investigators said she entered the path of Krug’s department-issued Ford Explorer, which was traveling westbound in the center lane. The impact sent both vehicles spinning before they came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the road.
All five people involved were taken to hospitals. The 6-year-old girl, who was a passenger in the Pathfinder, died from her injuries. Authorities have not released her name. The 8-year-old girl remained hospitalized after the crash, while the 1-year-old child and the Pathfinder’s driver also were injured. Troopers said Krug’s speed was the primary factor in the crash. East Fowler Avenue has a posted 50 mph speed limit, and investigators said Krug was traveling at more than twice that speed. Officials said he was not taking law enforcement action at the time.
Temple Terrace city officials said the Police Department cooperated with the highway patrol’s independent investigation while also conducting an internal administrative review. The city said Krug had worked for the department since early 2024. In a statement, city officials said they remained “deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from this crash” and extended condolences to the child’s family and loved ones. The city also said it supported the highway patrol’s investigation and the actions taken after troopers completed their findings.
The charges move the case from an internal discipline matter into the criminal court system. Vehicular homicide is a felony charge in Florida tied to a death caused by reckless driving. The reckless driving counts are linked to the people who survived with serious injuries, according to the charges announced by troopers. Krug was being held without bond after his surrender, with a first appearance scheduled for May 1. Court records available from initial reports did not list a plea or an attorney speaking on his behalf.
The crash also drew attention because it involved a marked police vehicle and a child passenger in another car during afternoon traffic. Photos released after the crash showed heavy damage to the Nissan Pathfinder. Troopers said the Ford Explorer struck the Pathfinder after the SUV turned at the intersection. The case centers on the speed of the police vehicle and whether that speed made the crash unavoidable once the Pathfinder entered the roadway. Officials have not said whether dash camera video, body camera footage or vehicle data recordings will be released.
Investigators have not said whether the Pathfinder driver will face any citation or charge. The highway patrol’s public findings focused on Krug’s speed and said he was not responding to an emergency or taking police action. The Temple Terrace Police Department said its own review found violations of policy and law before Krug was fired. The department said it would continue cooperating with state investigators as the criminal case moves forward.
The next milestone is Krug’s first court appearance in Hillsborough County, scheduled for May 1. The case remains active, and authorities have not released the child’s name or a full final crash report.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.