Universal officials confirmed that a guest died after riding the Stardust Racers at Epic Universe on Wednesday, according to WESH news. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the cause of death was due to multiple blunt impact injuries, and the manner of death has been ruled an accident.
Stardust Racers
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said that off-duty deputies responded to a call advising of a “man down” at the park.
After officers arrived at the scene, they encountered a thirty-something man, later identified as Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who was found unresponsive. The man was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Stardust Racers
A WESH helicopter was on scene and was able to capture video of the large law enforcement presence, with a forensic team and crime scene vans seen in the loading area. You can see the video here.
©Universal
A Universal spokesperson shared a statement regarding the incident:
“Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night. The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.”
WELCOME to Epic Universe!
Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest of them all. The ride reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. It is meant to be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience, “with unique maneuvers such as the ‘Celestial Spin,’ in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air.”
The family started a GoFundMe to help with expenses during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with the guest’s friends and family.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
It makes no sense that he suffered ‘multiple blunt force injuries’ when so many others have ridden safely. Didn’t people sitting next to or around him notice when or how it happened? The news is saying nothing! Sad but it seems to make sense that this is a tragic but isolated incident? Or is there a fluke with this ride? To be honest, I’m not sure why people enjoy these type of dangerous thrills. Our bodies are not meant for them. Nobody goes to parks thinking this is where I’m going to die….but we never really know, do we….I hope his friends and family will someday find peace and joy in their memories.
This is very sad but AP just reported that he had a spinal condition that had him in a wheelchair and was on medication. I’m all for equal opportunities but I’m pretty sure this should have made him ineligible to ride such a dangerous attraction? The sign saying who should not ride is quite long and specific. It’s just not worth someone’s life. Perhaps the operators need more training? I hope they close the ride for good and put something much safer and family friendly in its place. I hope his friends and family plus the other riders and first responders will heal in time and find peace.
News wasn’t reporting much til tonight. Turns out the man had a spinal condition, used a wheelchair, was on meds, and should never have been on that intense of a ride. The doctor interviewed said that such intensity can force your neck to snap (he used a Latin term) and have huge, negative impacts on your skeletal structures and organs even in seemingly healthy people. So the ‘blunt force injuries’ may just have been his head getting knocked around and have nothing to do with actually getting hit repeatedly. I’m certainly sorry for this tragedy and its effect on everyone around this incident, and I hope he didn’t suffer, but why people think these thrill rides are fun is beyond me. Just bc an engineer can design it and a theme park build it doesn’t mean they should. Imo this kind of ride has crossed the lines of safety and fun and has no business being in a family theme park. I hope it never reopens and they replace it with something more reasonable and less ‘thrilling’ and dangerous. May he RIP and his family heal in time.