It’s been just over a week since 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala tragically lost his life after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s new Epic Universe theme park. Zavala, who was reportedly found unresponsive after the ride, was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead.
The cause of death has been determined to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” according to the medical examiner’s report. In the wake of this tragedy, Universal Orlando is now facing not only a manslaughter investigation, but also a lawsuit related to the ride.
Related: Epic Universe Coaster Now Closed After Guest Dies Onboard
Zavala had a known spinal condition and was reportedly on medication at the time of his ride, though the specific medication has not been disclosed. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has launched a manslaughter investigation, focusing on whether negligence played a role in his death.
Universal Orlando Resort President and COO Karen Irwin issued a statement assuring the public that the ride was functioning as intended at the time of the incident. Despite this, the Sheriff’s Office has emphasized that their investigation must determine whether there were any contributing factors, criminal or otherwise, that led to the death.
The investigation into this matter continues, with authorities examining all aspects of the ride and its operation.
Related: Universal Quietly Testing Stardust Racers After Tragic Guest Death, Video Shows
In the aftermath of Zavala’s tragic death, attention has turned to the safety of Stardust Racers once again. A Florida woman, 49-year-old Sandi Streets, has filed a lawsuit against Universal after allegedly suffering injuries on the same roller coaster months earlier.
The lawsuit, which was filed by the Spetsas-Buist law firm, accuses Universal of failing to secure her head properly during the ride.
The woman’s complaint says Stardust Racers caused her head to shake violently and slam against her seat’s headrest. It goes on to say she had a reasonable expectation that the rides inside Epic Universe would be reasonably safe.
One of the allegations is that Universal failed to properly restrain her head while riding Stardust Racers.
The Spetsas-Buist law firm filed the lawsuit on Wednesday, asking for a jury trial to decide how much Universal should compensate Streets for her head injuries.
Related: Epic Universe Death Investigation Update: Fans React to Tragic News
Although Universal has not reported any injury incidents involving Streets, they have confirmed that other guests have complained of health-related issues after riding Stardust Racers. One report came from a 47-year-old woman who experienced “visual disturbance and numbness,” and a 63-year-old man with preexisting conditions reported dizziness. These additional health concerns have brought more attention to the potential safety risks of the ride.
The family of Kevin Zavala, in their pursuit of justice, has enlisted the help of renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Crump, who has represented numerous high-profile clients, has made it clear that Zavala’s spinal condition did not contribute to his death. The family is pushing for greater transparency from Universal Orlando Resort and is demanding that the park take immediate steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
What are your thoughts on the lawsuit filed following Zavala’s death? Do you believe there will be an increase in similar lawsuits in the near future? Should Universal take immediate action to make Stardust Racers safer? Share your opinions in the comments below.
