Tejano Singer Emilio, sued by bandmembers over bus crash

Tejano Singer Emilio, sued by bandmembers over bus crash

Posted on Jun 2, 2008 in News & Views by PMC Comments Off

Two band members who were passengers on the bus that crashed in March with Emilio Navaira at the wheel have sued the Tejano singing star in state court because of the injuries they suffered.

The two musicians, Daniel Sandoval and Pedro Ramirez, are asking for unspecified damages from Emilio, Inc., the singer’s corporate identity. The suit, which does not name Navaira individually, was filed last week in Houston and assigned to the district court of Judge Caroline E. Baker.

Navaira, 45, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.19 — more than twice the legal limit — while driving the tour bus that crashed early March 23, according to a report made public by the Bellaire Police Department. He could face charges of DWI or felony intoxication assault for injuring five passengers when the bus slammed into traffic barrels on the northbound West Loop. He also did not have the type of license required to legally drive the vehicle.

“Defendant was intoxicated well beyond the legal limit to operate a vehicle, was not licensed or properly trained, and was not properly rested to drive that night,” the lawsuit states.

Navaira and his band, Rio, had performed at a Houston club hours before the crash and were returning to San Antonio when the accident occurred on West Loop 610.

Navaira, who is still recovering from a life-threatening head injury suffered in the crash, has twice been arrested for driving while intoxicated After the second arrest, he signed an affidavit saying he did not own an automobile. That spared him from having to equip his vehicle with an ignition interlock, an alcohol-detection device into which a person must breathe before starting his car, and a standard condition of bond when facing a second DWI charge.

Tags: Bus Crash, DUI, Emilio, lawsuit, Musica, Tejano