Singer was drunk when bus crashed, police say
The Associated Press
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HOUSTON -- The blood-alcohol level of award-winning Tejano singer Emilio Navaira was more than twice the legal limit for driving when he crashed his tour bus on a freeway March 23, according to a police report released Thursday.
No charges have been filed against Navaira, who was severely injured, but a police report states that Harris County prosecutors believe a charge of driving while intoxicated is warranted.
Navaira, who has two previous arrests for DWI, had a blood alcohol level of 0.19, according to the report obtained by the Houston Chronicle. The legal limit for driving is 0.08.
Band member Ricardo Vega told the newspaper that Navaira didn't appear that impaired "but he could have killed us all."
The 45-year-old singer is still recovering at a Houston rehabilitation center. Several other band members came away with less serious injuries.
The police report stated that Eric Kugler, an assistant district attorney in Harris County, "felt the injuries were sufficient to support the charge of intoxication assault."
After the accident, doctors performed two brain surgeries and repaired an aneurysm in Navaira's right lung. His doctors have been encouraged by his recovery but have said it is difficult to predict how fully he will recover.
Navaira, known to his fans as Emilio, won a Grammy for best Tejano album in 2003 with Acuerdate.
