Six-year-old Leila Sakowski loved playing with her siblings and helping her mother Samantha Sakowski with deliveries, according to family friends. That ordinary routine ended in tragedy on April 15 when a Temple Terrace police officer allegedly reached 104 mph in a 50 mph zone—rushing because he was late for work—and crashed into the family's SUV, killing the young girl and seriously injuring her mother and two other children.
Background
Leila Sakowski was riding in the backseat of her mother's SUV on the afternoon of April 15 when Zachary Krug, then a patrol officer with the Temple Terrace Police Department, allegedly ran a red light and accelerated to dangerous speeds on Fowler Avenue. The 25-year-old officer had stopped for a red light before activating his blue lights on an unmarked cruiser and running through the intersection, Florida Highway Patrol investigators said.
According to prosecutors, Krug was traveling west on Fowler Avenue near North Avenue when he struck Sakowski's vehicle, which was in the median either making a left turn or U-turn. Video footage shows the officer traveling approximately 74 mph at the moment of impact—not his top speed of 104 mph—after decelerating from his earlier reckless pace.
Leila was rushed to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. Sakowski and her two surviving children, ages 18 months and 8 years old, were also hospitalized with serious trauma. The oldest child was placed into a medically induced coma suffering a broken spine and pelvis, according to a GoFundMe established for the family. Sakowski herself sustained broken ribs and two black eyes.
The Investigation
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez announced charges against Krug on Monday, filing vehicular homicide and reckless driving counts in connection with Leila's death. The case has drawn sharp criticism from prosecutors who say Krug prioritized his personal schedule over public safety.
"I am absolutely sickened by what happened on that afternoon," Lopez told WTVT. "This was just a regular old Wednesday afternoon when this officer decided that what he needed to do was more important than anybody else on the road was doing. He endangered lives and he killed a 6-year-old girl by the choices that he made."
Krug's defense attorney Ralph Fernandez has offered an alternative narrative, claiming his client was attempting to pursue another vehicle that had run a red light ahead of him. "A vehicle was in front, took off, left a patch of smoke, ran a light, he began to follow," Fernandez said in May. However, State Attorney Lopez stated investigators found no evidence supporting the chase theory.
The Temple Terrace Police Department terminated Krug following the incident. He was booked into Hillsborough County Jail and has since posted a $90,000 bond after pleading not guilty to all charges.
Key Takeaways
- Zachary Krug, 25, former Temple Terrace police officer, faces vehicular homicide and reckless driving charges
- Prosecutors allege Krug reached 104 mph in a 50 mph zone because he was running late for his shift
- Six-year-old Leila Sakowski died at the hospital after the crash; her mother and two siblings were seriously injured
- Defense claims Krug was chasing another vehicle, but state prosecutors say no evidence supports that theory
- Krug has pleaded not guilty and is free on $90,000 bond pending trial
What's Next
Krug is scheduled to appear in Hillsborough County court on August 13 for his next hearing. The case will test whether an officer's urgency to reach work can justify speeds that resulted in a child's death—and whether criminal charges can hold a law enforcement member accountable when the victim is a civilian.