Tejano music star Emilio Navaira remained in critical condition in a Houston hospital early today, fighting for his life after his tour bus slammed into traffic barrels on the northbound Loop 610 just before the Southwest Freeway exit.
The Grammy-winning singer suffered life-threatening head injuries when he was thrown through the front windshield of the bus he was driving at 5 a.m. Sunday, according to friends and authorities.
Navaira had surgery Sunday to remove a blood clot in his head, his agent, Joe Casias, told The Associated Press. "The next 24 hours are very critical," Casias said. "....on behalf of his family, we hope his fans will pray for Emilio."
Police aren't sure if alcohol played a role in the wreck but said they planned to test the driver's blood levels.
"For some reason, the driver lost control and hit the barrels," said Bellaire police Sgt. Daniel Kerr, who would not confirm that Navaira was driving. "We don't know why yet."
The driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, Kerr said.
Authorities are also uncertain of how fast the bus was travelling when it struck the barrels — crushing the vehicle's front end and scattering concert posters and other debris along the road. Part of the West Loop was closed for several hours while police investigated and cleared the scene.
Navaira, 45, was among eight people injured in the accident. He was flown by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where a family friend said doctors operated to open Navaira's skull to relieve swelling.
"They told me they had to induce a coma to help relieve that pressure," said Joey Rodriguez, a close friend of Navaira's and manager for David Lee Garza y Los Musicales. "They told me that had given him a 20 percent chance (of surviving), so the next 24 hours is critical."
Navaira's younger brother and bandmate, Raul, a passenger on the bus, was seen walking around in OK condition at the hospital, friends said.
Two other bus passengers were transported to Memorial Hermann with less severe injuries, Houston Assistant Fire Chief Omero Longoria told the AP. Both were treated for minor injuries and released, hospital administrator Lisa Lagrone told the wire service.
The other five passengers were taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where their conditions were not immediately known, Longoria said. A hospital spokeswoman would not give out any information, citing health privacy laws.
Known simply as Emilio to his fans, Navaira and his band, Rio, performed Saturday night at Hallabaloo's in southeast Houston. He was set to perform Friday at the San Jose Scottish Rite Center in California.
Eden Barrera Jr., a fan in Houston, said he was floored by the scene of the accident, which he stopped to photograph.
"From what I could see, there was nothing left of the front cab," he said. "It is unbelievable that anyone could have survived the crash."
Family members, friends and fans touted Navaira's critical role in increasing the popularity of Tejano music. They also recounted Navaira's generosity, including his work to raise about $1 million for a children's foundation since 1990.
"He would give the shirt off his back to help anybody," said Ben Arredondo, Navaira's former uncle.
The San Antonio native was a self-taught musician who learned on a guitar that his father purchased at a pawn shop. He later majored in music at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.
In 1989, he went solo and quickly rose as an influential force in the rising movement that became Tejano's massive renaissance in the early '90s. By the mid '90s, Navaira and Selena were considered the undisputed king and queen of Tejano. They both played in front of 70,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome for the Houston Rodeo's Go Tejano Day several times. They also dominated at the annual Tejano Music Awards.
In 2003, Emilio won a Grammy for his CD Acuerdate. His latest CD, De Nuevo, was released last September.
Like several celebrities, Emilio has seen his share of troubles.
He was arrested for driving while intoxicated in September of 2000. That followed his arrest in January of that year on charges of assaulting a girlfriend and resisting arrest, charges that were later dropped.
Grammy-winning, Houston-based Tejano band Avizo has performed with Navaira on several occasions. Band leader and trumpet player Robert Dorantes compared Navaira's legacy to that of Selena and says, "This could have happened to any one of us."
Navaira "helped shape Tejano music into what it is today," Dorantes said. "We hope and pray Emilio comes out of this OK, and this should be a wake-up call to all musicians on the road."
