Universal Orlando Resort’s newest park, Epic Universe, has become the center of an ongoing investigation and legal case after the death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala earlier this month.
On September 17, Zavala boarded Stardust Racers, a high-speed roller coaster that reaches over 60 miles per hour and climbs to a 133-foot peak. During the ride, Zavala lost consciousness and was attended to immediately by first responders when the train returned to the station. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries that occurred after he blacked out while on the attraction.
According to his girlfriend, Zavala had a history of spinal injury and was on medication, though it is unclear whether those factors were related to the incident. Following the tragedy, Universal Orlando President and COO Karen Irwin reassured employees that Stardust Racers had been operating “as intended.” As with other major thrill rides, posted safety notices caution guests with medical conditions against riding.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has opened an investigation, while the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has launched a manslaughter probe in accordance with procedures for non-natural deaths. Detectives are reviewing whether negligence or other circumstances may have contributed.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, retained by Zavala’s family, has called for Universal to provide maintenance logs, inspection records, operational data, and video tied to the incident. “A man died after boarding a ride that should have been safe. We will hold all responsible parties to account … We will demand full transparency,” Crump said in a statement. Crump also represented the family of Tyre Sampson, who died in 2022 after falling from Orlando’s FreeFall tower ride.
Crump held a press conference on September 30, pointing to an earlier incident in which another Stardust Racers rider reported injuries before settling with Universal out of court. “We believe that these were warning signs that there was something wrong with the design of this ride and that they tried to blame the victims,” he said, via Click Orlando. He went on to question whether the resort took action after being alerted. “She told them that you all need to do something about this because someone is going to be seriously injured, or worse, they’re going to be killed.”
Universal has pledged cooperation with authorities. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Zavala’s family. As the legal process unfolds, theme park guests and fans await clarity on whether the incident stemmed from personal health conditions, operational oversight, or a broader safety concern. The investigations remain active.
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