Update 05/06/2026: A judge has ordered a former Temple Terrace police officer to be held on a $90,000 bond in connection with a crash that killed a 6-year-old girl. Prosecutors say dash camera footage shows Krug driving at 104 mph before hitting the family’s car, and that he was not responding to any emergency.
A former Temple Terrace police officer has been arrested and charged after a vehicle crash on East Fowler Avenue killed a 6-year-old girl and injured others in the vehicle she was riding in.
According to WFLA’s report, Zachary Mason Krug, 25, was arrested in connection with the fatal crash. Other local reports state that Krug was driving a Temple Terrace Police Department Ford Explorer westbound on East Fowler Avenue near North Drive when the crash occurred. The vehicle he struck, a Nissan Pathfinder, was carrying a 36-year-old woman and three children. A 6-year-old girl later died from her injuries.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators said Krug was traveling more than 100 mph in a 50 mph zone before the crash. FOX 13 reported that officials said Krug was not taking law enforcement action at the time.
Krug was charged with vehicular homicide and three counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. The Temple Terrace Police Department also terminated Krug after an internal administrative investigation.
At this stage, the charges are allegations. Krug is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. But for the family of the child who died, the criminal case is only one part of what may come next.
A fatal crash involving a law enforcement vehicle can raise serious civil questions. Was the officer responding to an emergency? Was the speed justified? Did department policy allow the conduct? Could the city, agency, or another party face civil responsibility? And what rights does the child’s family have under Florida wrongful death law?
A Fatal Police Vehicle Crash Can Lead to Criminal and Civil Cases
A criminal case and a civil case serve different purposes.
The criminal case belongs to the State of Florida. Prosecutors decide whether to bring charges, and the court determines whether the accused person is guilty of a crime. In this case, Krug faces criminal charges connected to the crash, including vehicular homicide and reckless driving involving serious bodily injury.
A civil wrongful death claim belongs to the family and the estate. Its purpose is not to decide whether someone should go to jail. Its purpose is to determine whether surviving family members may recover compensation for the loss of their loved one.
Under Florida Statute § 768.19, a wrongful death claim may be available when a person dies because of another person’s wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract or warranty. Families dealing with the death of a child after a serious crash should speak with an experienced Florida wrongful death lawyer as early as possible so the civil side of the case can be reviewed while evidence is still available.
That distinction matters. Even if a driver is arrested, charged, or later convicted, the criminal case does not automatically pay for funeral expenses, lost support, emotional pain, or other damages available under Florida law.
What Is Vehicular Homicide in Florida?
Under Florida Statute § 782.071, vehicular homicide involves the killing of a human being caused by operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm.
That is a serious criminal charge. But a charge is not the same as a conviction. Prosecutors still have to prove the criminal case in court.
For the civil side, the legal analysis is different. A wrongful death or injury claim may focus on whether speeding, reckless driving, failure to follow policy, unsafe operation of a law enforcement vehicle, or other conduct caused the crash.
Police Vehicles Still Have Safety Rules
Police officers and emergency vehicle drivers may have certain privileges in specific emergency situations. But those privileges are not unlimited.
Florida law allows authorized emergency vehicle drivers to exceed speed limits in certain circumstances, but only so long as they do not endanger life or property. The same statute also says emergency vehicle laws do not relieve the driver from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons or protect the driver from the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.
That is why the facts matter so much in a case like this.
Important questions may include:
- Was the officer responding to an emergency call?
- Were emergency lights or sirens used?
- Was there a lawful reason for the speed?
- Did department policy allow the officer’s conduct?
- What did the dash camera show?
- What did the vehicle data recorder show?
- What did witnesses see before impact?
- Was the officer acting within the scope of employment?
According to local reports, FHP said Krug was not taking law enforcement action at the time of the crash, and Temple Terrace police said the conduct leading to the arrest was not consistent with department policies, training, or expectations.
Civil Claims Against Government Agencies Can Be Complicated
When a crash involves a government vehicle or public employee, the civil case may be more complex than a standard car accident claim.
Florida’s sovereign immunity statute, Florida Statute § 768.28, allows certain tort claims against the state and its agencies or subdivisions, but it also includes specific rules, notice requirements, limitations, and recovery caps. That does not mean every crash involving an officer automatically creates government liability. It means the facts must be investigated carefully.
A lawyer may need to examine whether the officer was acting within the scope of employment, whether the city may be legally responsible, whether sovereign immunity applies, whether pre-suit notice requirements must be met, and whether insurance coverage exists.
These cases can move quickly, and the deadlines can be unforgiving.
The Civil Deadline Does Not Wait for the Criminal Case
A family should not assume the civil case can wait until the criminal case is over.
Criminal proceedings can take months or years. During that time, roadway footage may be overwritten, witnesses may become harder to locate, vehicle data may be lost, and insurance issues may become more difficult to sort out.
When a government agency may be involved, Florida law can also require written notice of the claim within specific timeframes. For wrongful death claims against certain government entities, Florida Statute § 768.28 includes a two-year written claim presentation requirement.
That is why early investigation matters.
A Tampa car accident lawyer can help preserve evidence, review crash reports, examine vehicle data, communicate with insurers, and identify who may be legally responsible after a serious or fatal crash.
What This Temple Terrace Crash Reminds Florida Families
This crash is heartbreaking because a child’s life was lost in a place where families should be able to travel safely.
It is also a reminder that fatal crashes can involve more than ordinary driver negligence. When the driver is a police officer, public employee, or emergency vehicle operator, the case may involve criminal charges, department policy, government liability rules, sovereign immunity, insurance coverage, and wrongful death law.
For grieving families, those issues can be overwhelming. A civil claim cannot undo the loss. But it may help uncover what happened, identify responsible parties, and provide financial support for the people left behind.
Injured in a Tampa Crash or Lost a Loved One?
Armando Personal Injury Law helps injured people and grieving families after serious and fatal crashes in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Hillsborough County, and across Florida.
If your family lost someone in a crash, or if you were injured because of another driver’s negligence, our team can help investigate what happened and explain your legal options.
Speaking with a Tampa fatal car accident lawyer early can help your family understand what evidence should be preserved, what deadlines may apply, and what claims may be available.
Call Armando Personal Injury Law at (813) 482-0355 or message us to request a consultation.
About the Author
Attorney Armando Edmiston is the founder of Armando Personal Injury Law in Tampa and St. Pete, Florida. A U.S. Marine veteran, Hillsborough County native, and ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist, he represents Floridians in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases.