ORLANDO, Fla. – The family of a 32-year-old man who died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe says their son loved theme parks, was a “roller coaster freak,” and they want Universal to be completely clear and open about what happened to their son.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive after riding the roller coaster last week 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."
“I don’t want anybody else to feel like I feel right now,” said Carlos Zavala, Kevin’s father. “So please, help me get that done.”
[VIDEO BELOW: Family seeks transparency]
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.
“There are cameras everywhere,” Crump said. “I believe in my heart of hearts that there are cameras that video exactly things that are significant and germane to get into the truth of what happened to Kevin.”
“The family is asking for two things,” attorney Natalie Jackson said. “They’re asking for a full and transparent investigation into how this happened, and they are asking for the Stardust Racer ride to remain shut down until all investigations are complete and they fully understand what was involved, and what preventative methods are being taken to prevent this from ever happening again to anybody else’s child.”
[WATCH BELOW: Cause of death revealed for guest who rode Stardust Racers at Epic Universe]
Family members took turns speaking about Zavala. He had spinal cord atrophy, which forced him to use a wheelchair, but they say he was very independent and able to cook and care for himself. He drove, got a college degree and helped his father with his nonprofit work.
Kevin Zavala was also a game designer and video game influencer online, and worked part-time at Truist Bank.
“I never put any limits on my son,” his mother Anna Zavala said. “Regardless of what condition he had, he had no limits. He was raised like his siblings, no different, he was completely independent. My son was an angel.”
Services will be held for him at Funeraria San Juan Funeral Home, on South John Young Parkway in Kissimmee, on Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The family says the public is welcome.
Investigating what happened
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.”
However, Crump pointed out that Zavala was never told he couldn’t ride the coaster, which Crump said he was riding for the first time that day.
Crump’s team said their investigation so far showed Zavala had been unconscious for much of the ride and suffered several head injuries. They also said witnesses noticed that there was blood and part of a seat covering was detached and hanging off the seat.
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,” adding 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]