ORLANDO, Fla. – A woman has filed a lawsuit against Universal City Development Partners Ltd., claiming negligence related to injuries she sustained while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
The complaint, which seeks damages exceeding $50,000, stems from an incident on April 30, when the woman, who was a lawful business invitee, rode the coaster.
According to the complaint, the woman’s “head shook violently and slammed into the seat’s headrest throughout the ride,” causing permanent injuries. She claims Universal failed to maintain the ride in a reasonably safe condition and did not provide adequate warnings about the ride’s dangers.
The dual-launch coaster is stacked with hills, heights up to 133 feet on a 4,800-foot track, where trains will reach speeds up to 62 mph. The lawsuit also states the coaster has “twists, turns, drops, and flips without providing its riders with any head restraints”.
The woman is accusing the company of breaching its duty of care by failing to properly restrain riders’ heads, inspect and maintain the roller coaster, correct dangerous conditions, and warn riders adequately.
The woman seeks damages exceeding $50,000 for her injuries, pain and suffering, disability, and related losses.
Epic Universe opened on May 22, but had preview periods for team members, media, and the general public during the weeks prior to opening.
Universal has not responded to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit comes as an investigation is underway into a man’s death after he rode Stardust Racers on Sept. 17.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive after riding the roller coaster and later died. His death was ruled an accident, according to a medical examiner who declared the cause of death was from "multiple blunt impact injuries."
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The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the death and is looking into the possibility of negligence. The sheriff’s office released a statement that said in part, “Through their investigation, detectives attempt to figure out IF there is any culpable negligence or a crime that occurred.”
Universal Orlando Resort President and COO Karen Irwin said in an internal letter sent to team members that internal findings confirmed the ride “functioned as intended” and that the equipment was intact when the ride started, throughout the ride, and when it returned to the station.
On Wednesday, attorney Ben Crump and his team said they want all videos and reports related to Zavala’s deaths released to the family. The team is conducting its own independent investigation.
A GoFundMe page reportedly set up for Zavala described him as “truly one of a kind” with “a heart full of compassion, love, and understanding,” adding he “always made time to listen, offer thoughtful advice, and lift others up.”
Stardust Racers has been closed since the incident as investigators look into what happened.