Emilio Navaira III In Critical Condition

This past weekend was a grim one for Latin music. Following the passing of Israel 'Cachao' Lopez on Saturday, tejano singer-songwriter Emilio Navaira III was involved in a bus crash in Houston. Navaira was driving fellow musicians in his band Rio from their gig at Hallabaloo's nightclub in Houton when the bus slammed into traffic barrels early on Sunday morning.

The crash caused Navaira to go through the windshield; he was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital with severe brain injuries. After operating, doctors put Navaira into a medically-induced coma then lowered his body temperature in an attempt to reduce the swelling to his brain. At the time of this blog, the doctors have begun to raise his body temperature, but it's not clear whether or not he will survive.

Also injured in the crash were Rio accordionist Ray Diaz DeLeon, drummer Daniel Sandoval, bass player Rick Vega, bajo sexto player Eddit Perez, vocalist (and Navaira's brother) Raul Navaira and a cousing, Jesse Castor. All of these injured have either been released or are doing well.

Emilio Navaira has had a big role in the popularity of tejano music and, in 2004, won a Grammy for his album Acuerdate.