TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. – A Temple Terrace police officer is facing multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, after a fatal crash in which his vehicle reached speeds of 100 mph.
The crash happened on April 15 just before 4 p.m. on East Fowler Avenue and North Drive.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, officer Zachary Mason Krug was driving his Temple Terrace PD Ford Explorer westbound when he collided with an eastbound Nissan Pathfinder making a left turn at North Drive.
A 6-year-old girl who was a passenger in the Nissan died at an area hospital after the crash. An 8-year-old girl who also was in the Nissan remains hospitalized.
Krug, 25, along with the 36-year-old woman driving the Nissan suffered non life-threatening injuries.
Troopers cited Krug’s excessive speed in the crash, charging him with vehicular homicide and three counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury.
The Temple Terrace Police Department announced Thursday Krug has been fired by the agency.
“We remain deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from this crash and extend our continued condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones,” the department said in a released statement. “We fully support the Florida Highway Patrol’s independent investigation. The actions that led to this arrest are not consistent with our policies, our training, or the expectations we place on our officers.”