The man who died at Universal’s Epic Universe was in the front seat of the Stardust Racers coaster when his head violently jerked back and forth, leaving him unresponsive when the high-speed ride ended, according to his heartbroken family.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, had been “excited” for a fun-filled day at the Florida theme park and saved the new dueling roller coaster for his final ride on Sept. 17, his loved ones told “Good Morning America” Thursday.
Now they’re searching for answers after Zavala — who had spinal cord atrophy and used a wheelchair — suffered multiple blunt-force injuries while riding the popular coaster with his girlfriend of 10 years.
“It is so difficult because I have no idea what happened there. And now, I don’t have my kid,” his father, Carlos Rodriguez Zavala, told the news agency.
“I heard from other people that he was hitting his head back and forth. So my question is, what happened to him? Something happened there.”
A medical examiner ruled the mysterious death an accident last week due to the blunt force, though it remains unclear where on his body the traumatic injuries occurred.
“It’s like a nightmare,” his sister, Lisa Cruz Rodriguez, said, explaining that her brother had spent the whole day on other rides before boarding Stardust Racers, a wheelchair accessible attraction.
“I’m still waiting to wake up.”
Zavala’s grief-stricken family has since retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is demanding that the Orlando amusement park release maintenance logs, inspection records, ride data, and video footage to uncover what led to his death.
Crump told the outlet that even if the ride didn’t malfunction, safety issues could still be to blame.
“We just want it to be safer so everybody can enjoy it and not have to go through this again,” Rodriguez stressed.
Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, maintained to employees that the rid was functioning normally, that all equipment was intact during the ride and staff “following procedures,” during the incident, according to an internal memo obtained by Deadline.
The thrilling dual-launch coaster, reaching speeds of 62 mph and a height of 133 feet, will remain closed while park officials undergo a “comprehensive review.”
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