April 15, 2026. East Fowler Avenue at North Drive in Temple Terrace, Florida. A police officer drove a department issued Ford Explorer westbound. He was not responding to a call. His lights were off. His siren was silent. His speed, according to vehicle data, reached 104 miles per hour. The posted limit was 50.
A 36 year old Tampa woman was driving a Nissan Pathfinder with her three children inside. She attempted a U turn at North Drive. The Explorer struck her vehicle. Both SUVs ended up in a roadside ditch.
A 6 year old girl was taken to a nearby hospital. She died there. Her 8 year old sister remained hospitalized. A 1 year old was treated and released. The mother survived but sustained injuries.
The officer was Zachary Mason Krug. He was 25 years old. He worked for the Temple Terrace Police Department. After the crash, an internal review found that he had violated department policy, city rules, and state law. He was terminated. On April 30, he surrendered to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was arrested. The charges are serious. One count of vehicular homicide. Three counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury.
On May 5, 2026, a pretrial detention hearing took place. Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella set Krug’s bond at $90,000. Prosecutors argued that Krug remains a danger to the community. They pointed to his speed. They noted that he had no lawful purpose for driving more than 100 miles per hour on that road at that time.
Defense attorneys offered an alternative explanation. They claimed Krug had been attempting to follow another vehicle. But investigators testified that there was no evidence of a pursuit. No evidence of a traffic stop.
No evidence that Krug had radioed dispatch to report anything unusual. If Krug posts bond, he will face strict conditions. He cannot drive. He must surrender his passport. He must wear a GPS monitor. He cannot contact the victims or their family.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate. Prosecutors maintain that excessive speed was the primary cause of the fatal collision. A 6 year old girl is dead. An 8 year old remains in a hospital. A family is shattered. And a former police officer awaits trial.
Krug’s law enforcement career is over. His criminal case is just beginning. The Temple Terrace Police Department has distanced itself from his actions. But the families affected by the crash do not care about department politics. They care about a 6 year old who will never come home.