Family of Roller Coaster Victim Speaks Out

The family of a man who tragically died on a roller coaster at Epic Universe has come forward, claiming that several other riders have reported injuries related to the popular attraction.

Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a 32-year-old wheelchair user, passed away after an incident on the Stardust Racer coaster on September 17. Reports indicate that other riders have experienced similar injuries, which raises concerns about safety at the park, according to Florida Today.

“Many riders of the Stardust Racer have reached out to our family and our legal team, leading us to believe that Kevin’s situation isn’t an isolated case,” said their attorney, Ben Crump, during a news conference.

Zavala, who battled spinal cord atrophy, suffered a fatal blunt impact injury while riding the coaster with his girlfriend, as determined by officials.

Witnesses have described the horrifying scene, noting that Zavala lost consciousness and his body became unresponsive during the ride. His father mentioned that his head appeared to be shaking violently.

Attorney Natalie Jackson, part of Crump’s team, stated that their investigation revealed Kevin sustained repeated head injuries while riding, and most of the time, he was unconscious.

Additionally, Zavala had a laceration, Jackson noted.

Eyewitnesses recounted the gruesome details of Zavala collapsing on the ride, covered in blood, and his family criticized park staff for their lack of preparedness in handling the emergency.

Crump emphasized that the family believes Universal Orlando ignored “numerous warning signs” regarding the safety of the coaster and must take responsibility for what happened.

It was reported that Universal had previously documented four incidents involving the Stardust Racer, but they attributed the injuries to “pre-existing conditions,” as mentioned by Crump.

The family also shared a statement from a woman claiming she was injured on the same coaster in May, stating she lost consciousness and sustained a concussion and spinal injury.

Requests to Universal for video footage of the incident have been repeatedly declined.

Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, stated that staff typically operates safely and claimed that all equipment was functioning properly during the incident, according to an internal memo.

The dual-launch coaster, Stardust Racer, can reach speeds of up to 62 mph and rises 133 feet high.