ORLANDO, Fla. – The family of a 32-year-old man who died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe has retained prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who has called for the release of video, ride data and more to understand the circumstances around the man’s death.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive after riding the roller coaster last week and later died. His death was ruled an accident and the medical examiner, who declared that his cause of death was from “multiple blunt impact injuries."
In a statement issued on Monday, Crump said in part, “This tragic loss demands a thorough investigation and full transparency. A man died after boarding a ride that should have been safe.”
[WATCH BELOW: Cause of death revealed for guest who rode Stardust Racers at Epic Universe]
An incident report obtained by News 6 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 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.
The Florida Department of Agriculture also said in a statement, “The department’s current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information. The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
The roller coaster towers approximately 133 feet and has been closed since the incident as investigators continue to piece together what happened. 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.
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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,” 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.
[WATCH BELOW: Guest dies after riding Stardust Racers at Epic Universe in Orlando]