A man who died after riding a roller coaster at a Universal’s new theme park in Florida was killed by “multiple blunt impact injuries,” the medical examiner said.
The manner of death was also determined to be an accident, said the chief medical examiner for Orange and Osceola counties. No other details about the “blunt impact” injuries were released.
The rider, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, was found unresponsive after riding the Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe, one of the parks at Universal Orlando, on Wednesday. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A GoFundMe established for Zavala’s family includes photos of him in a wheelchair visiting theme parks. An incident report obtained by television station WESH showed that Zavala had a preexisting spinal injury.
“Kevin was truly one of a kind. He had an old soul—wise beyond his years—with a heart full of compassion, love, and understanding,” the family states on the GoFundMe. “Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit.”
The death raises many questions, said Dennis Speigel, CEO and founder of consulting firm International Theme Park Services.
“Was it the head or the chest? Was he banging around? Was he in his seat properly?” Speigel said. “Was it an accident caused by the ride or him doing something?”
“We are devastated by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,” a Universal spokesperson told Nexstar’s WFLA in a statement. “We are fully cooperating with Orange County and the ongoing investigation.”
The Stardust Racers attraction is found in the Celestial Park area of Universal Epic Universe. The ride is a “dual-launch coaster,” according to Universal, that reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights of 133 feet.
Universal Epic Universe opened in May 2025. The park features five themed worlds: Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic.
Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs. Instead, the largest theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols, but they must report to the state any injury or death.
In the second quarter of this year, there were a dozen reports from Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld Orlando. They ranged from a 78-year-old woman becoming unresponsive on a child-friendly carousel at SeaWorld to an 87-year-old woman with a preexisting condition losing consciousness after going on the Dinosaur ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Since Epic Universe opened in May, there have been three reports made. In May, a 63-year-old man with a preexisting condition experienced dizziness and “an altered state of consciousness,” and a 47-year-old woman with a preexisting condition had a “visual disturbance” and numbness after going on the Stardust Racers coaster, on separate days. A 32-year-old man experienced chest pains after going on the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders ride, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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