A tragic incident occurred at Universal’s epic universe when a man, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, lost consciousness while riding the Stardust Racer coaster. His head was seen twitching violently back and forth before he passed out.
Zavala had been having an exciting day at the Florida theme park and saved the roller coaster—his last ride—with loved ones for a memorable experience on September 17. However, now his family is grappling with grief, particularly his father, Carlos Rodriguez Zabara, who expressed confusion and anguish over the circumstances surrounding his son’s death.
“It’s very difficult because you don’t know what happened there. And now I don’t have any children,” he shared, recalling how others reported seeing Kevin hitting his head. His father is left questioning, “What happened to him? Something happened there.”
While medical inspectors labeled the mysterious death last week as a result of blunt force trauma, it remains uncertain how specific injuries were sustained during the ride.
Lisa Cruz Rodriguez, Zavala’s sister, described the day as surreal, noting that her brother enjoyed various rides before trying the Stardust Racer. “I’m still waiting to wake up,” she said, reflecting on the nightmare of losing him.
In light of these events, the family has enlisted the help of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is advocating for the release of maintenance logs, inspection records, ride data, and video footage to uncover what led to the tragedy.
Crump emphasized that even if the ride wasn’t malfunctioning, safety concerns might still play a role in the incident. “We just want it to be safer; everyone can enjoy it, and there’s no need to experience something like this again,” expressed Rodriguez.
Karen Irwin, the president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, stated that all equipment was functioning properly at the time of the incident and reiterated that there was no malfunction. Meanwhile, the dual-lane coaster, which reaches speeds of 62 mph and stands 133 feet tall, will remain closed as officials conduct a comprehensive review.
