ORLANDO, Fla. – In an internal letter obtained by News 6, the president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort wrote to employees that the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe functioned “as intended” prior to the death of a guest last week.
Karen Irwin wrote to Universal Orlando team members following the death of 32-year-old Kevin Zavala, who was found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers last Wednesday and later died. His death was ruled an accident and the medical examiner ruled his cause of death was “multiple blunt impact injuries.”
[WATCH BELOW: Cause of death revealed for guest who rode Stardust Racers at Epic Universe]
Irwin said, in part, 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.
“The attraction remains closed as we continue to work through a comprehensive review process in cooperation with the ride manufacturer of record. Safety is, and always will be, at the forefront of everything we do,” Irwin wrote.
[READ FULL LETTER BELOW]
An incident report obtained by News 6 on Friday revealed 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.”
The roller coaster towers approximately 133 feet and has been closed since the incident as investigators continue to piece together what happened.
[VIDEO: Investigation continues after guest dies following ride on Stardust Racers coaster]
Orange County 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.
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.
[BELOW: Video shared with News 6 shows what appears to be an unresponsive rider on Stardust Racers]
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.”
Epic Universe has five themed sections and a 500-room hotel. It’s the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida since 1999, when Universal Islands of Adventure debuted, though Universal opened a themed Orlando water park, Volcano Bay, in 2017.
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.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zavala’s death.
Meanwhile, Attorney Ben Crump announced that he has been retained by Zavala’s family, who are now seeking the release of maintenance logs, inspection records, ride data and video footage.
“This tragic loss demands a thorough investigation and full transparency,” he said. “A man died after boarding a ride that should have been safe. We will hold all responsible parties to account and fight to ensure that all media inquiries be directed to Ben Crump Law’s office.”
[WATCH BELOW: Epic Universe roller coaster rider died of ‘multiple blunt impact injuries’]