Florida Authorities Rule Roller Coaster Death at Universal's Epic Universe Accidental

Florida authorities have concluded that the death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who sustained fatal injuries on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal's Epic Universe theme park, was accidental. The Orange County Sheriff's Office stated that park employees adhered to all safety protocols and were not negligent.

An autopsy revealed that Zavala suffered multiple blunt-impact injuries, including a deep forehead laceration, fractures to the bone ridge above his eye, a broken nose, and a fractured right thigh bone. Additional injuries included bruises on his arms and abdomen.

Zavala, who used a wheelchair due to a congenital spinal condition, appeared "engaged and well" at the ride's start but was found unresponsive and slumped over at its conclusion, according to security footage. Witnesses reported seeing him bleeding from the face and leaning over in his seat when the coaster stopped.

His girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, who was seated beside him, noted that the lap restraint required multiple attempts to secure and felt excessively tight. She recounted that Zavala was thrown forward during the ride's initial descent, striking his head on the metal bar ahead, and continued to hit his head throughout the ride despite her efforts to hold him back.

The Stardust Racers roller coaster, a dual-launch design reaching speeds up to 62 mph, officially opened in May. Following the incident, Universal conducted a comprehensive review, confirming that the ride functioned as intended and that safety protocols were followed. The ride was temporarily closed but has since reopened with updated safety guidelines and signage.

This incident follows a previous case where a jury awarded $310 million to the family of a 14-year-old boy who died after being ejected from a free-fall ride at Orlando's Icon Park in March 2022, leading to the enactment of the Tyre Sampson Act to enhance amusement park safety regulations.