Article

Saturday, September 20, 2025
search-icon

Man who died on Universal Orlando roller coaster had a spinal condition: report

publish time

20/09/2025

publish time

20/09/2025

NYPS216
Guests ride on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe Theme Park at Universal Resort Orlando on April 10, in Orlando, Fla. (AP)

ORLANDO, Fla, Sept 20, (AP): Emergency workers who responded to Universal Orlando Resort's newest park for a man who had become unresponsive on a roller coaster originally were told he had lacerations. But when they got to the ride, he wasn't breathing and eventually died, according to radio traffic and a report released Friday by the sheriff's office.

Orange County, Florida, firefighters and Universal emergency workers tried to revive Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on a platform next to the Stardust Racers roller coaster Wednesday, but the 32-year-old man was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, according to an incident report from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Zavala's longtime girlfriend, who was with him, told deputies that he had a preexisting spinal condition - he used a wheelchair - and was taking medication, the report said. After performing an autopsy, Joshua Stephany, the medical examiner for the Orlando area, ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident.

The statement from Stephany on Thursday did not mention any details about the injuries, including where on the body they were found. Zavala's family in an online post described him Friday as "one of a kind.” Zavala lived in Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. "Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit.,” his family said "He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet resilience and humility.”

The Stardust Racers roller coaster opened to the public in May with the debut of the Epic Universe park. The ride is described on the resort’s website as "a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph).” Stardust Racers was among the rides at Epic Universe which were designed to accommodate people transferring from wheelchairs to the ride vehicle, according to a Universal Orlando Resort safety guide.

The guide also said that riders of Stardust Racers were required to pass through metal detectors to make sure they had no loose items in their pockets that could fly out, and that people with prosthetic limbs needed to remove them before riding. A Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson has said the resort is cooperating with investigators at the Orange County Sheriff's Office.