A person in his 30s died after turning into unresponsive whereas using Stardust Racers at Common Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit score: FOX 35 Orlando
The Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace launched extra particulars on Friday in its investigation into the loss of life of a rollercoaster rider at Common Epic Universe on Wednesday, sharing {a partially} redacted incident report and two audio recordsdata.
The sheriff’s workplace recognized the person who died after using Stardust Racers on the Orlando theme park as 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala.
The county medical expert mentioned Zavala died from “a number of blunt drive accidents” and dominated his loss of life unintended, based on FOX 35 Orlando, however his actual accidents weren’t launched.
The incident report confirmed that an Orange County deputy responded to a medical emergency on the theme park at round 9:20 p.m. native time on Wednesday.
MAN DIES AFTER BECOMING UNRESPONSIVE ON ONE OF UNIVERSAL’S NEWEST RIDES
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, died after turning into unresponsive on the Stardust Racers rollercoaster at Common Epic Universe. (GoFundMe)
The deputy reported that he noticed folks with Orange County Fireplace Rescue (OCFR) and Common Orlando Well being Providers performing CPR on a person, later recognized as Zavala, who was on “the platform immediately parallel to the trip tracks” for Stardust Racers.
A non-emergency name from OCFR launched with the incident report famous that Zavala had a laceration and was unresponsive and never respiratory. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Heart and was pronounced lifeless at 10:05 p.m., based on the report.
Zavala’s girlfriend of 10 years was on the theme park with him and was described by the deputy as “visibly shaken.”
She mentioned she was having panic assaults and was unable to jot down an announcement herself, however instructed legislation enforcement that Zavala, who used a wheelchair, had a spinal harm and “was taking [redacted] medicine,” based on the report.
She was additionally taken to the hospital by a deputy to be “attended to.”
Stardust Racers is one in every of Common parks’ latest thrill rides. This picture was taken from Common Helios Grand Resort in Orlando, Florida, on April 4, 2025. (Pilar Arias/Fox Information Digital / Fox Information)
The sheriff’s workplace said that it didn’t obtain any 911 requires this incident, seemingly as a result of theme parks don’t enable patrons to take their telephones – or different unfastened objects – on sure rides.
The one obtainable audio is radio site visitors for a self-initiated name by a deputy and the decision from OCFR – neither of which give a lot element into what came about.
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Stardust Racers is a dual-launch rollercoaster that reaches speeds “as much as 62 mph” and climbs “heights as much as 133 ft alongside 5,000 ft of observe,” based on the attraction’s web site. It’s positioned within the Celestial Park portion of the theme park, which formally opened on Might 22, 2025.
Common Epic Universe theme park merchandise is displayed forward of the grand opening ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on Might 19, 2025. (REUTERS/Marco Bello / Reuters)
Visitors should be a minimum of 48 inches tall to trip and warning indicators are “discovered on the entrance of every attraction to assist decide the points of interest which are appropriate for friends primarily based on their talents,” based on the Common Orlando Resort’s Information for Security and Accessibility, which was final up to date in April.
Relying on the trip, warnings listed are for friends with a historical past of coronary heart circumstances, irregular blood stress, expectant moms and different well being circumstances.
Stardust Racers rollercoaster is seen within the Celestial Park portion of Common Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, on April 4, 2025. (Pilar Arias/Fox Information Digital / Fox Information)
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An inspector with the Florida Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers was at Epic Universe on Friday to research what triggered Zavala’s loss of life, based on FOX 35.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned whereas it understands that there’s a lot of curiosity on this case, extra data will seemingly not be launched whereas the investigation is energetic.
