Former Temple Terrace police officer Zachary Mason Krug, 25, is facing criminal charges in connection with a deadly crash that occurred on April 15, 2026, along East Fowler Avenue at North Drive in Temple Terrace, Florida. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Krug was driving a department‑issued Ford Explorer westbound when he collided with a Nissan Pathfinder carrying a mother and her three children.
Investigators stated that Krug was traveling at more than 100 miles per hour, with dash‑camera and vehicle data showing he reached 104 mph in a 50‑mph zone seconds before impact. Troopers confirmed that the Nissan, driven by a 36‑year‑old Tampa woman, was attempting a U‑turn at North Drive when Krug’s vehicle struck it, sending both SUVs into a roadside ditch.
A 6‑year‑old girl riding in the Nissan later died at a nearby hospital, while her 8‑year‑old sister remained hospitalized and a 1‑year‑old child was treated and released. The children’s mother also sustained injuries. Authorities emphasized that Krug was not responding to an emergency, had not radioed dispatch, and did not have his lights or sirens activated at the time of the crash.
Krug was arrested on one count of vehicular homicide and three counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. He surrendered to the Florida Highway Patrol on April 30 after being terminated from the Temple Terrace Police Department. An internal review found that he violated department policy, city rules, and state law by driving at excessive speed without lawful justification.
During a pretrial detention hearing on May 5, 2026, Hillsborough County Judge Christopher Sabella set Krug’s bond at $90,000. Prosecutors argued he remained a danger to the community, citing his speed and lack of lawful purpose at the time of the crash. Defense attorneys claimed he had been attempting to follow another vehicle, but investigators testified there was no evidence of a pursuit or traffic stop.
If released on bond, Krug is prohibited from driving, must surrender his passport, wear a GPS monitor, and have no contact with the victims or their family. The Florida Highway Patrol continues its investigation as the criminal case proceeds, with prosecutors maintaining that Krug’s excessive speed was the primary cause of the fatal collision.
