Investigation into Universal Orlando Roller Coaster Fatality Concluded by Sheriff
A man in his 30s died after becoming unresponsive while riding Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: FOX 35 Orlando
The tragic death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala has been ruled accidental, as confirmed by an incident report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Zavala was riding the high-speed roller coaster at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe theme park when he was found unresponsive. Security footage indicated that Zavala appeared “engaged and well” at the start of the ride but was unresponsive upon returning to the loading dock.
Stardust Racers, a dual-launch coaster, reaches speeds of up to 62 mph and heights of 133 feet. The ride is part of Universal Orlando’s latest theme park, Epic Universe.
Guests ride Stardust Racers, a new twin coaster, during a preview day for Universal Epic Universal April 5, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service / Getty Images)
Zavala’s family, through their attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, released a statement expressing their gratitude for community support and requesting privacy. They confirmed that an amicable resolution had been reached with Universal, though the terms remain confidential.
Witnesses reported that Zavala suffered “severe facial trauma.” One witness described seeing him “slumped over with blood coming from his head,” while another noted that Zavala’s left leg was at an unnatural angle between the lap bar. Dr. Anna Marshall, who was waiting to board the ride, heard someone screaming for help and rushed to assist. She found Zavala in a critical state, with severe injuries, including a broken thigh bone.
Javiliz Cruz-Robles, Zavala’s girlfriend, was also on the ride and mentioned that employees had pushed down on Zavala’s lap bar multiple times before the ride began, but she felt it was still too low. Zavala’s family had previously expressed concerns about his ability to ride certain attractions due to his medical history, which included spinal cord atrophy and multiple surgeries.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, died after becoming unresponsive on the Stardust Racers rollercoaster at Universal Epic Universe on Sept. 17, 2025. (GoFundMe)
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Cruz-Robles recounted her experience as Dr. Marshall attempted to provide aid, expressing her fear about Zavala’s mother’s reaction to him riding the coaster. The family had long been concerned about his safety on rides due to his medical challenges, including previous surgeries for a hip dislocation and a fractured femur.
Attorney Benjamin Crump displays a photo of the Stardust Racers Epic Universe roller coaster during a press conference with the family of Kevin Zavala in downtown Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The family has alleged that Zavala’s death is part of a troubling pattern. Crump highlighted that the safety systems on Stardust Racers were “inadequate,” pointing to a concerning history of incidents. Records obtained by WOFL revealed that two injuries had been reported since the ride’s opening, both attributed to preexisting conditions.
Following Zavala’s autopsy, the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” classifying it as an accident. The sheriff’s office concluded that Epic Universe employees adhered to their Standard Operating Procedures and acted appropriately during the incident.
Fox Business has reached out to both the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Universal Orlando for further comments.
Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
A man in his 30s died after becoming unresponsive while riding Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: FOX 35 Orlando
The tragic death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala has been ruled accidental, as confirmed by an incident report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Zavala was riding the high-speed roller coaster at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe theme park when he was found unresponsive. Security footage indicated that Zavala appeared “engaged and well” at the start of the ride but was unresponsive upon returning to the loading dock.
Stardust Racers, a dual-launch coaster, reaches speeds of up to 62 mph and heights of 133 feet. The ride is part of Universal Orlando’s latest theme park, Epic Universe.
Guests ride Stardust Racers, a new twin coaster, during a preview day for Universal Epic Universal April 5, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service / Getty Images)
Zavala’s family, through their attorney, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, released a statement expressing their gratitude for community support and requesting privacy. They confirmed that an amicable resolution had been reached with Universal, though the terms remain confidential.
Witnesses reported that Zavala suffered “severe facial trauma.” One witness described seeing him “slumped over with blood coming from his head,” while another noted that Zavala’s left leg was at an unnatural angle between the lap bar. Dr. Anna Marshall, who was waiting to board the ride, heard someone screaming for help and rushed to assist. She found Zavala in a critical state, with severe injuries, including a broken thigh bone.
Javiliz Cruz-Robles, Zavala’s girlfriend, was also on the ride and mentioned that employees had pushed down on Zavala’s lap bar multiple times before the ride began, but she felt it was still too low. Zavala’s family had previously expressed concerns about his ability to ride certain attractions due to his medical history, which included spinal cord atrophy and multiple surgeries.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, died after becoming unresponsive on the Stardust Racers rollercoaster at Universal Epic Universe on Sept. 17, 2025. (GoFundMe)
UNIVERSAL AIMS TO CUT INTO DISNEY’S THEME PARK LEAD WITH MASSIVE NEW ORLANDO ATTRACTION
Cruz-Robles recounted her experience as Dr. Marshall attempted to provide aid, expressing her fear about Zavala’s mother’s reaction to him riding the coaster. The family had long been concerned about his safety on rides due to his medical challenges, including previous surgeries for a hip dislocation and a fractured femur.
Attorney Benjamin Crump displays a photo of the Stardust Racers Epic Universe roller coaster during a press conference with the family of Kevin Zavala in downtown Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The family has alleged that Zavala’s death is part of a troubling pattern. Crump highlighted that the safety systems on Stardust Racers were “inadequate,” pointing to a concerning history of incidents. Records obtained by WOFL revealed that two injuries had been reported since the ride’s opening, both attributed to preexisting conditions.
Following Zavala’s autopsy, the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” classifying it as an accident. The sheriff’s office concluded that Epic Universe employees adhered to their Standard Operating Procedures and acted appropriately during the incident.
Fox Business has reached out to both the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Universal Orlando for further comments.
Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
