Houston Police Officer Killed in Early Morning Accident

Suspected Driver Under the Influence Taken into Custody
Last Edited: Sunday, 29 Jun 2008, 7:46 PM CDT
Created: Sunday, 29 Jun 2008, 8:30 AM CDT

Houston police officer Gary Gryder was killed June 29 when a vehicle accident was driven into him. FOX 26 News

HOUSTON -- A Houston police officer is killed after he is struck by a driver who police say was acting in a bizarre manner at the accident site.

Police report the suspect was laughing when they questioned him.

Based on the driver's odd behavior, police claim he may have been under the influence of some substance.

Three officers were working at a construction site to block traffic at the intersection of Interstate 10, Katy Freeway, and State Highway 6, when the suspect barreled his vehicle into two police officers.

The driver was traveling eastbound on the Katy Freeway frontage road at approximately 5 a.m. and failed to stop at several construction barrels before striking two of the three officers.

Officer Gary Gryder, a 25-year veteran with the Houston Police Department who worked on the southeast Patrol, was pronounced dead Sunday morning.

Fellow officer Joe Pyland, who works with the HPD traffic and mobility unit, is in critical but stable condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

A third officer, identified as Officer Milton Sallee of the HPD traffic and mobility unit, was able to jump out of the way when the driver plowed into the construction area.

The driver responsible for the accident has not been identified yet, but was taken into police custody and could face charges of intoxication manslaughter.