ORLANDO, Fla. — In the wake of the tragic death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on Universal Orlando’s Stardust Racers roller coaster, the investigation into safety practices at the park is intensifying. Zavala suffered blunt force injuries on September 17 while enjoying the attraction, and his family is now speaking out for answers.
During a press conference, attorney Ben Crump revealed that multiple individuals have come forward, sharing their own frightening experiences on the ride since its opening. One woman reported losing consciousness shortly after riding the roller coaster in May, suffering neck and spine injuries. Through a GoFundMe page, she reached out to Zavala's family to share her ordeal.
All we want is answers regarding my son’s death, said Zavala’s mother, Ana Zavala. It is extremely difficult losing a son and we do not wish this pain on anyone.” Crump has echoed these sentiments, urging Universal to address the safety concerns raised by previous riders.
The coasters at the newly opened Epic Universe theme park reach speeds of up to 62 mph and were officially launched to the public in May. After the death, a medical examiner confirmed Zavala's cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries, categorized as an accident. However, discrepancies in safety measures and reports of prior incidents have raised alarms.
Karen Irwin, president of Universal Orlando Resort, indicated in internal communications that initial reviews confirmed normal ride operations at the time of the incident, suggesting no missteps by staff. Nonetheless, these assurances did not quell Crump's call for greater regulatory oversight of theme parks.
If there’s an operational issue, it’s imperative to know how Universal responded to prior reports of injuries, Crump stated, advocating for heightened governmental scrutiny for major amusement parks, as Florida’s largest parks are currently exempt from specific state safety inspections.
The fallout from Zavala's unfortunate death leads to questions about the design and safety protocols of the rides, particularly with reports of other ride-related injuries surfacing since the park's launch. Following these revelations, Crump has urged anyone else who experienced harm on the ride to come forward.
Ultimately, the tragic incident serves as a dark reminder of the importance of safety in amusement parks and the potential consequences of oversight failures.
