The Associated Press

HOUSTON—Grammy-winning Tejano singer Emilio Navaira was critically injured when his band bus crashed near Houston on Sunday.

Navaira and his band Rio had performed at a Houston nightclub on Saturday night. The band’s bus slammed into traffic barrels just after 5 a.m. on Interstate 610 northbound in the posh Houston enclave of Bellaire, west of downtown Houston, said Bellaire police Sgt. Daniel Kerr.

Based on video from traffic cameras at the scene, previous news reports said three vehicles were involved. Kerr said only the bus was involved, however.

Navaira was one of eight passengers on the bus who were injured in the crash, said Houston Assistant Fire Chief Omero Longoria. Navaira was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was listed him in critical condition and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, said hospital administrator Lisa Lagrone.

Two others were transported to Memorial Hermann with less severe injuries, Longoria said. Both were treated for minor injuries and released, Lagrone said. The other five were taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where their conditions were not immediately known, Longoria said. A hospital spokeswoman would not give out any information, citing health privacy laws.

Emergency crews were still trying to remove the bus from the scene at midday and traffic was still moving slowly, Kerr said.

The 45-year-old Navaira and Rio have released more than a dozen albums, including “Acuerdate” that won the 2003 Grammy for best Tejano album.

According to the band’s Web site, Navaira was born in San Antonio and earned a music scholarship from Texas State. In 1989, he formed the band with brother Raul, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, two Houston television stations reported.