ORLANDO, Fla. – A 32-year-old man died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe last week, sparking an investigation into what exactly happened.
In the week to follow, Orange County deputies, Universal officials and state investigators have released more details about the incident as the case continues to unfold.
The timeline of News 6’s investigation is as follows:
Wednesday, Sept. 17
“Tragic Event”
A Universal spokesperson initially reported that a guest had become unresponsive that night after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster.
According to the spokesperson, the guest was taken to the hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead.
[BELOW: Video shared with News 6 shows what appears to be an unresponsive rider on Stardust Racers]
“We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,” the spokesperson stated. “We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation.”
The ride was shut down following the incident, and Orange County deputies began investigating what happened.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Cause of Death
Orange County deputies officially identified the guest as 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala.
In addition, the medical examiner’s office revealed the cause of death to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” chalking up the incident as an “accident.”
[BELOW: Watch News 6’s previous reporting on Zavala’s death]
Witness Speaks
The same day, News 6 reporter Mike Valente spoke with Maria Fernandez, who said she was on the ride at the same time as Zavala.
“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.”
When the ride came to a stop, security began to usher riders off the roller coaster, Fernandez added.
[BELOW: Listen to News 6 reporter Mike Valente’s full interview with Fernandez]
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.
GoFundMe Campaign
A GoFundMe page was set up by Zavala’s family, who 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," the post reads. “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.”
The campaign says that donations will go toward funeral and memorial expenses. As of Tuesday evening, the campaign had already raised over $27,000 — more than three times its original goal.
Friday, Sept. 19
More Details Revealed
An incident report obtained by News 6 shows 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 incident report shows that Universal Orlando Health Services was performing CPR on Zavala on the platform next to the ride’s tracks when deputies first arrived at the scene.
Monday, Sept. 22
“Functioned As Intended”
News 6 obtained an internal letter from Universal Orlando Resort President Karen Irwin, who told team members that the roller coaster had “functioned as intended.”
She claimed that internal findings had confirmed that the coaster’s equipment had been intact and functioning properly throughout the ride.
[READ FULL LETTER BELOW]
Manslaughter Investigation
Orange County deputies told News 6 that the sheriff’s office is investigating the incident under Florida’s manslaughter statute.
That statute outlines manslaughter under state law as follows:
“The killing of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another, without lawful justification according to the provisions of chapter 776 and in cases in which such killing shall not be excusable homicide or murder, according to the provisions of this chapter, is manslaughter, a felony of the second degree...”
Florida Statute 782.07
The sheriff’s office later clarified that this is part of its standard procedure for cases like this, as detectives must determine whether any negligence occurred, either criminal or non-criminal.
“Manslaughter is just the name of the catch-all statute covering deaths that are not natural,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said.
Ben Crump Gets Involved
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that he had 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,” 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.”
Wednesday, Sept. 24
News Conference
Crump held a news conference with Zavala’s family, saying that they want all of the videos and reports related to his death to be released to the family.
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.
Experts Weigh In
Emergency medicine physician Dr. Rajiv Bahl explained to News 6 that many people with physical limitations, including wheelchair users, can safely ride roller coasters.
As such, Zavala’s impairment may not have been at fault.
[BELOW: Expert takes a look at Stardust Racers death case]
“It’s common for people in wheelchairs to ride roller coasters, whether it’s individuals with paralysis or cerebral palsy,” Bahl said. “The question here is whether Rodriguez Zavala passed out and then suffered multiple blunt force injuries, or if the injuries themselves caused him to pass out and eventually die.”
Thursday, Sept. 25
Lawsuit Filed
News 6 obtained a copy of a lawsuit filed against Universal earlier in the week, claiming that a separate woman had been hurt while riding the Stardust Racers coaster.
The lawsuit accuses Universal of negligence, as the woman’s head shook “violently” and slammed against her seat’s headrest while she was on the ride
You can read the full lawsuit below:
No additional information has been provided at this time. News 6 will update this story as more updates come in.