Lawyer Ben Crump not too long ago introduced a number of victims have come ahead with alleged accidents in relation to a deadly incident on an Epic Universe curler coaster in Orlando, Florida. (WOFL)
Attorneys representing the household of a 32-year-old man who died after driving on Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers curler coaster in Orlando, Florida, declare the incident was not “remoted,” and a number of other different victims have reported related accidents after taking part in the identical experience.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died at a hospital Sept. 17 after struggling a number of blunt pressure accidents on the Stardust Racers dual-launch experience at Common Epic Universe, in response to authorities.
Zavala’s household alleges Common missed “a number of” warning indicators earlier than his demise.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, died after changing into unresponsive on the Stardust Racers curler coaster at Common Epic Universe in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 17. (GoFundMe)
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Throughout a information convention Tuesday, civil rights legal professional Ben Crump mentioned Zavala’s girlfriend, who was on the experience with him and was additionally taken to the hospital, witnessed him being “thrown ahead resulting from restraint points,” including a number of riders got here ahead with related firsthand accounts about the identical experience.
Crump alleged the protection methods on the experience, which debuted Could 25, have been “insufficient” and famous the experience historical past presents an “alarming timeline.”
In a lawsuit regarding a separate April 30 incident, attorneys mentioned one other rider reported that, whereas on the curler coaster, her head shook violently, and he or she was slammed into the seats.
Company experience Stardust Racers, a brand new twin coaster throughout a preview day for Common Epic Universe in Orlando, Fla. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune Information Service / Getty Photographs)
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Common, which is required to self-report incidents, documented two accidents on the experience since its opening, in accordance to information obtained by affiliate FOX 35.
On June 22, a 63-year-old man reported dizziness and an altered state of consciousness, which was Common attributed to a preexisting situation.
| Ticker | Safety | Final | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMCSA | COMCAST CORP. | 30.40 | -0.54 | -1.75% |
Two days later, on June 24, a 47-year-old lady reported a visible disturbance and numbness, additionally attributed by Common to a preexisting situation.
Zavala’s household begged for solutions, noting he liked theme parks and rode curler coasters in varied cities with out incident.
Stardust Racers is one in all Common parks’ latest thrill rides. (Pilar Arias/Fox Information Digital / Fox Information)
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Attorneys are calling for larger authorities oversight of huge firms like Common in Florida as an alternative of permitting them to self-report following non-public inspections.
The Tyre Sampson Act, named after a 14-year-old who died in a 2022 experience accident, tightened Florida’s amusement experience security guidelines in 2023, requiring rides taller than 100 toes to have seat belts and harnesses, unannounced inspections, documentation of modifications, enhanced worker coaching and accident reporting.
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Stardust Racers can exceed 60 mph and climb to greater than 130 toes, in response to the attraction’s web site. Nonetheless, the regulation exempts giant theme parks like Common that already function below self-inspection methods.
The curler coaster, which was closed in September, stays shut down.
FOX Enterprise’ Elizabeth Pritchett and Pilar Arias contributed to this report.
