HOUSTON -- A Houston police officer injured when a car slammed into him and another officer remembered a fellow officer who died at the scene, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Officer Joe Pyland spoke to reporters via a speakerphone from his hospital room on Monday.

"I hope each and every one of you keep the Gryder family in your prayers," he said.

Pyland has a steel rod in his broken leg, but his thoughts were with his good friend and colleague, HPD Officer Gary Gryder, who did not survive after the officers were hit by a speeding car early Sunday morning.

Pyland said it took only half a second for the car to crash through construction zone barriers where the officers were assigned to direct traffic along the Katy Freeway feeder at Highway 6.

"There was no reaction time. Everybody did the best they could. I lost a great friend. What a great guy," Pyland said.

Pyland's 16-year-old son Jolan first got the call that his dad was injured.

"It was just hard -- like a nightmare," Jolan Pyland said.

The suspect, Hung Truong, 24, appeared in court Monday morning on a manslaughter charge. His bond was set at $50,000. Investigators said that the charge could be upgraded to intoxication manslaughter depending on the outcome of toxicology tests.

Officers at the accident scene Sunday said Truong was nonchalant and at times laughing as if he were impaired by drugs or alcohol, or had a severe mental deficiency.

That upset Pyland's wife.

"These officers put their lives on the line. They deserve every respect from everybody," Mary Pyland said.

Pyland, a 26-year HPD veteran, was in fair condition after surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

A third officer, Milton Sallie, escaped injury by jumping out of the way.

Gryder left behind a wife, who is a retired officer, a 13-year-old son, and a stepdaughter.

"(He) never met a stranger, had a million-dollar personality, and was a great police officer, husband, and family man," Houston Police Officer's Union President Gary Blankinship said of Gryder.

Anyone who would like to help the officers' families with medical and funeral expenses can send donations, in care of Joe Pyland or Gary Gryder, to the Houston Police Officers Union, 1600 State Street, Houston, Texas, 77007.