ORLANDO, Fla. – The family of a man who died from “blunt impact injuries” while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe in Orlando has created a GoFundMe to help cover funeral and memorial expenses “during this incredibly difficult time.”
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, was found unresponsive last week after riding Stardust Racers, prompting first responders to take him to a hospital, where he died, Orange County deputies said.
Orange-Osceola Chief Medical Examiner Joshua Stephany told News 6 that an autopsy revealed the cause of death as “multiple blunt impact injuries.”
“The manner of death is accident,” Stephany said.
[VIDEO BELOW: Epic guest died of ‘blunt impact injuries’]
Since then, News 6 has obtained an investigative report showing that Zavala suffered from 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.”
In the GoFundMe post, titled, “In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala,” the family described him as “truly one of a kind.”
He had an old soul—wise beyond his years—with a heart full of compassion, love, and understanding. He was the kind of person who always made time to listen, offer thoughtful advice, and lift others up, even when he was facing challenges of his own.
In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala (excerpt)
“His presence lit up every room, and his absence leaves a space no one can fill,” the post states.
Maria Fernandez, who said she was on the roller coaster at the same time as Zavala, recounted what happened to News 6.
“When I was on the ride, the travel finishes, and one girl starts to say, ‘Help! Help! Help!’” she explained. “(...) The girl was screaming, and we didn’t understand what happened.”
[BELOW: Video shared with News 6 shows what appears to be unresponsive rider on Stardust Racers]
When the ride came to a stop, security began to usher riders off the roller coaster, Fernandez added.
She said that Zavala appeared to be slumped over, bleeding, with his leg seemingly broken.
“I don’t know if he was dead in that moment, but I think yes,” she continued.
However, Universal Orlando Resort President Karen Irwin wrote a letter to staff after the incident, claiming that the ride had functioned “as intended” prior to Zavala’s death.
In the letter, Irwin said that internal findings confirmed that the roller coaster’s equipment had remained intact throughout the course of the ride.
“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,” she wrote.
[READ FULL LETTER BELOW]
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump has since announced that he’s been retained by Zavala’s family, who are now looking for the release of maintenance logs, inspection records, ride data and video footage.
“This tragic loss demands a thorough investigation and full transparency,” Crump 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.”
Stardust Racers has been one of the most popular attractions at Epic Universe since it opened in May.
The ride is a dual-launch racing coaster that reaches speeds up to 62 mph and reaches a height of 133 feet. It’s described as Universal’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers along 5,000 feet of track.
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.
The addition of Epic Universe brought the total number of parks at the Florida resort to four, including Universal Studios.
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.
Records by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services show that a 32-year-old man experienced notable chest pain while riding Hiccup’s Wing Gliders back in May.
In June, those same records state that two other guests suffered conditions while riding on Stardust Racers: 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 agency released this statement to News 6 regarding the incident:
“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is aware of the incident and currently has an investigator on scene. Universal has been extremely cooperative and has complied with all required notifications. This is an ongoing investigation, and more information will be released as it is available.”