Emilio's blood alcohol level was 0.l9, report says

HOUSTON — Grammy-winning Tejano singer Emilio Navaira's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for driving when he crashed his tour bus on a freeway, according to a police report released Thursday.

No charges have been filed against Navaira, but a police report states that prosecutors believe the March 23 accident in suburban Houston warrants a charge of driving while intoxicated.

Navaira, who has previously been arrested twice on DWI charges, 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 was severely injured in the crash and is still recovering at a Houston rehabilitation center. Several other band members came away with less serious injuries.

The police report states 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 the performer's right lung.

His doctors have been encouraged by his quick recovery but have said it is difficult to determine how long it will take him to recover and how well he will recover.

Navaira, known to his fans as Emilio, has released more than a dozen albums with his band. He won a Grammy for best Tejano album in 2003 with "Acuerdate."

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