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Navaira was thrown through the windshield of his tour bus about 5 a.m. Sunday when it slammed into traffic barrels on the northbound West Loop 610 just before the exit onto U.S. 59 in southwest Houston. Six of his band members were also injured, none seriously.
Doctors at Memorial Hermann Hospital said Monday there is a possibility that the 45-year-old Grammy-winning singer may not survive.
"There is a chance he may not make it. You have to acknowledge that," said Dr. Alex Valadka, the director of the neurotrauma services who is treating Navaira.
Doctors removed a clot from the surface of the singer's brain and later placed him under a medically induced coma, Valadka said. His body temperature is being kept at 91.5 degrees Fahrenheit as part of a federally funded research study surrounding hypothermia. The colder temperature helps relieve the pressure of the brain and has shown to improve the outcome of brain injuries.
Doctors on Tuesday morning plan to bring his body temperature back to normal, or 98.6 F. The process should take about 16 hours, Valadka said.
"We're not going day-to-day, we're going hour-by-hour," Valadka said. Someone with Navaira's injuries could have a 65 percent to 75 percent rate of survival.
Doctors were encouraged Monday that the swelling to Navaira's brain has not increased.
The accident occurred after Navaira and his band, Rio, had performed at Hallabaloos nightclub in South Houston. Navaira was driving, said his manager, Joe Casias, and Bellaire police officials.
Eddie Perez, who plays bajo sexto — a 12-string guitar — said he was asleep in a bunk when he woke up to a violent jolt and a nightmarish scene.
"It seemed like forever but it took probably a few seconds for the bus to stop moving," Perez said Monday. "It was completely dark, we couldn't see anything. I tried calling out for others, but there was silence. A few seconds later I heard voices of different guys."
Perez said he only saw Navaira from a distance.
"But he looked bad, he had blood on his arms, face and head and all his clothes," he said.
Most of the band members were able to get out of the bus through broken-out windows.
Perez and five others were taken to Ben Taub General Hospital. Perez said his grandfather was also on the bus, but was not injured.
Five of the members — Perez; drummer Daniel Sandoval; accordion player Ray Diaz De Leon; singer Raul Navaira, Emilio's brother; and Emilio's cousin Jesse Castor — were released after treatment; bass player Rick Vega is in good condition after being treated for stomach injuries.
Keyboardist Frank Villarreal left the Saturday evening performance with his brother.
Bellaire police interviewed the members Monday, said Assistant Chief Byron Holloway. Holloway said investigators took a blood sample from Navaira, standard practice in serious accidents, to test for alcohol or a substance. Results are not expected until later this month.
The assistant chief also said an initial investigation showed that Navaira did not have the proper license to operate a vehicle the size of the tour bus he was driving. Investigators also are trying to determine if Navaira was wearing a seat belt, although one is not required, Holloway said.
Casias said it not out of the ordinary for Navaira to drive the tour bus. The group was headed back to San Antonio before leaving Wednesday for several concerts in California. The group performs about 150 concerts a year, he said.
Casias on Monday expressed thanks on behalf of Navaira's family for the support they have received since the accident.
"I've known Emilio since 1980. He's like a brother to me," Casias said, choking back tears, at a Monday morning news conference. "He was down to Earth. This guy would give you the shirt off his back."
Navaira also suffered fractures in his lower back and some bruising to his lungs, Valadka said.
Should Navaira survive, he could face being in a coma, paralysis, have trouble speaking, memory loss and be unable to focus, the neurosurgeon said.
Casias said extended members of Navaira's family from San Antonio were at the hospital Monday. "We've having prayer meetings among ourselves."
Navaira has been credited for increasing the popularity of Tejano music. He also is known for his generosity, including his work to raise about $1 million for a children's foundation since 1990.
Navaira won a Grammy in 2003 for his CD Acuerdate. His latest CD, De Nuevo, was released last September.
Mike Barron, a manager at Hallabaloos, said Navaira signed a deal earlier this year to perform exclusively at the club when in Houston.
''The show went great like always,'' Barron said of the Saturday night performance. ''There was a great crowd. He's always drawn very well for us.
''He was one of our star acts," Barron said. "Of course, right now our concern is about his health."
Source: http://gosshollywood.com
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