A tragic incident occurred when a six-year-old girl lost her life in a high-speed collision involving a Florida police officer who allegedly drove at 104mph in a 50mph zone. The event took place on April 15, involving Zachary Krug, a then 25-year-old officer with the Temple Terrace Police Department, who was reportedly rushing to his shift.
Krug allegedly approached a red light around 3:30 p.m., then activated his unmarked vehicle’s lights to speed through the intersection, reaching a speed of 104 mph. As he reached the intersection of Fowler Avenue and North Avenue, he encountered a mother, Samantha Sakowski, who was completing Uber Eats deliveries with her three children in the car.
Sakowski was making a turn at the junction when Krug noticed her vehicle and attempted to stop. Despite hitting the brakes, he collided with their car at around 74 mph, impacting the passenger side. The tragic outcome left Sakowski and her children with severe injuries. Two of her children, aged 18 months and 8 years, were hospitalized with serious injuries, while her 6-year-old daughter, Leila, sadly succumbed to the collision.
During a bond hearing in May, prosecutors presented dash camera footage showing Krug accelerating before the crash. However, the defense argued that Krug was on duty and following a speeding motorist.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez refuted the defense’s claim, stating there was no evidence supporting Krug’s pursuit of another vehicle. She condemned Krug’s actions, emphasizing that his choices led to the loss of a young life and endangered others on the road.
A GoFundMe page set up by the victims’ family revealed the extent of the injuries sustained. The elder sibling was in a medically induced coma with spinal and pelvic injuries, while Sakowski had broken ribs and two black eyes, and the one-year-old suffered a concussion.
The fundraiser has raised over $19,000, with an update on May 30 indicating that the 8-year-old is making progress in recovery. The family remains hopeful for the child’s return home in the coming weeks, although ongoing therapy and medical care will be necessary.
Following the incident, Krug was dismissed from the Temple Terrace Police Department and taken into custody at Hillsborough County Jail. He posted a $90,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 13.
To support the victims’ family, donations can be made to the GoFundMe page.