"No matter what the timing, this is a sad day for the Harris County Sheriff's Office and a tragic day for our entire community. But it's even more tragic considering that just a few days ago, law enforcement agencies and private industry joined me in announcing a new initiative against drunken driving, in which we ask the public to join with us in reducing this deadly scourge that unfortunately has made Harris County notorious," said Sheriff Adrian Garcia. "In the memory of Detention Officer Gregory Hundl, I urge everyone to prevent intoxicated individuals from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle."
Arnold is in the Harris County Jail, charged with intoxication manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid. Hundl had been with the Harris County Sheriff's Office since 2008. He worked at 701 San Jacinto as a jailer.Officer killed by alleged drunk driver
HOUSTON
Investigators say he was headed home from working the night shift when his motorcycle was hit on the Eastex Freeeway at Aldine Bender.
In addition to working as a jailer, Greg Hundl worked as an Atascocita volunteer firefighter. He was carrying out his life-long dream that has now come to a sudden end.
"I want my best friend back. He was my brother," said Troy Teller.
Teller is Hundl's best friend, who now feels like part of him is missing.
"It's always a good guy that always suffers the pain," said Teller.
Hundl worked as a jailer at the Harris County Jail. He'd just gotten off his shift and was nearly home. He was stopped at a red light on his motorcycle at 59 and Aldine Bender when from behind a 19-year-old alleged drunk driver plowed right into him. He never saw it coming.
"The impact was great enough to throw the motorcycle approximately 200 feet from the intersection," said Lt. Darryl Coleman of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies say the driver, Michele Renee Arnold, was going so fast that she barreled right through a pole, then into a field. She got out of her car, realized what happened, and tried to run away. But she was arrested.
Hundl, 25, was taken to LBJ Hospital, but doctors couldn't save him.
"Saw him when he left for work, never came back home," said Herman Main.
He was Hundl's roommate. Their friendship that revolved around pranks and laughter dates back more than a decade.
"I'm gonna miss him. It's not gonna be the same not getting his wild text messages when he's at work, when he's bored at the jail," said Main.
Hundl's death is traumatic for countless people all over the world. Because in addition to working for the sheriff's department and fighting fires, the Humble High School graduate served in the Navy for four years.
"It's just an indescribable feeling to give back to somebody, even though you don't know them. And he just loved it. And that's what he wanted to do," said Teller.
Now as the shock of Hundl's death catches up with his grieving family, they know this too is his way of serving and protecting people who may now think twice before drinking, then getting behind the wheel.
"That's two different families that are gonna be affected from this. You know, we don't have Greg, then at the same time, the person that hit him they may go away for a long time, so the family doesn't have them anymore. It's not worth it," said Main.
The driver, Michelle Arnold, was taken to the hospital for a mandatory blood draw. She was later transported to an HCSO substation where a breathalyzer test determined she had a blood alcohol content of 0.147, according to HCSO.
