ORLANDO, Fla. – Investigators are still trying to determine how a 32-year-old man died on Wednesday after riding the “Stardust Racers” roller coaster at Epic Universe. So far, investigators have ruled the manner of death an accident.
The victim, identified as Kevin Zavala, sustained “multiple blunt impact injuries,” the medical examiner said.
Authorities from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are still conducting an investigation at the park.
An incident report obtained by News 6 on Friday reveals that Zavala had a “preexisting spinal injury,” though it’s unclear whether that contributed to the accident.
Despite that, Universal Orlando’s safety guide shows that Stardust Racers is “not for guests with back, neck or similar physical conditions.”
[BELOW: Epic Universe roller coaster rider died of ‘multiple blunt impact injuries]
The roller coaster towers approximately 133 feet and has been closed since the incident as investigators continue to piece together what happened. Park officials have kept the ride shut and indicated no timeline for reopening.
Outside the area under investigation, friends and family have been sharing memories and photographs online. A GoFundMe page reportedly set up for Zavala describes him as “truly one of a kind” with “a heart full of compassion, love, and understanding,” and adds that he “always made time to listen, offer thoughtful advice, and lift others up.”
The campaign had raised about $15,000 toward an initial $16,000 goal, and the target was increased to $28,000, according to the page. Photos on the fundraiser also show Zavala using a wheelchair.
Deputies told News 6 that Zavala had been found unresponsive after riding the roller coaster, and he was later pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
[BELOW: Video shared with News 6 shows what appears to be an unresponsive rider on Stardust Racers]
The incident report shows that Universal Orlando Health Services was performing CPR on Zavala on the platform next to the ride’s tracks when deputies arrived at the scene.
Fellow guest Maria Fernandez, who said she was one of the dueling racers at the same time as Zavala, spoke with News 6 after the incident, saying that she’d seen him slumped over, bleeding, with his leg seemingly broken.
“I don’t know if he was dead in that moment, but I think yes,” she said.
[BELOW: Listen to News 6 reporter Mike Valente’s full interview with Fernandez]
Epic Universe, which opened in May, has closed the Stardust Racers ride. While the investigation continues, the rest of the park appeared to be operating as usual.
Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs.
Instead, the largest theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols, but they must report to the state any injury or death.
State records show only two other health incidents connected with the ride since it first opened: a 63-year-old man who experienced dizziness, and a 47-year-old woman who had a “visual disturbance. Both of those guests rode the roller coaster on separate days and had pre-existing conditions.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zavala’s death.