- Universal Epic Universe’s new roller coaster, Stardust Racers, opened in May.
- A guest died after they “became unresponsive,” Universal said in a statement.
- An official later told EW that Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died of “multiple blunt impact injuries.”
A guest has died after riding Universal Epic Universe’s new Stardust Racers roller coaster, with the Universal Orlando Resort and local authorities saying in statements that the rider died after being taken to the hospital.
When reached for comment, the Orange County Sheriff’s office tells Entertainment Weekly that “off-duty deputies responded to a man down call at Epic Universe,” where they discovered a man in his thirties who “was found unresponsive after riding a roller coaster and was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
The statement continues, “It’s very early in the investigation and we have no further information for release at this time.”
Later, in a statement provided to EW by Joshua Stephany, Orange and Osceola County’s chief medical examiner, the victim was identified as Kevin Rodriguez Zavala. Per the statement, the cause of death is “multiple blunt impact injuries” and that “the manner of death is accident.”
EW was at Epic Universe on Friday and observed that the ride was closed for the day. Team members stood at the entrance, while two signs nearby indicated that the ride was closed.
Joey Nolfi for EW
Late Wednesday, the guest reportedly “became unresponsive” after riding the dual-tracked, multi-launch steel roller coaster, according to a resort statement provided to EW by a Universal spokesperson.
“Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night,” the statement reads. “The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died.”
The resort adds that it is “devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,” and that the team is “fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation” while “the attraction remains closed.”
While deaths on rides are rare, they have, in the past, often resulted from pre-existing medical conditions. In August, a man lost consciousness at Hong Kong Disneyland on the park’s new Frozen-themed attraction due to a pre-existing medical condition.
Another recent incident at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania saw a 9-year-old child die at the resort after lifeguards noticed her “in distress” inside the park’s Boardwalk-themed water area.
Stardust Racers, one of the largest roller coasters at the Universal Orlando Resort, includes two side-by-side dueling tracks that race along a course that includes two launches (with one of the launches sending trains to speeds of 62 miles per hour), as well a 133-foot-tall maximum height.
Joey Nolfi for EW
The popular roller coaster was manufactured by Mack Rides, a German company that has worked with Universal before on the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coasters at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Beijing, Space Fantasy — The Ride at Universal Studios Japan, Epic Universe’s Curse of the Werewolf coaster, as well as other Unviersal rides at locations around the world.
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Universal Epic Universe held its grand opening in May as the third major theme park to open at the Orlando, Fla., resort, which also includes Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and the Volcano Bay water park.
The park includes attractions and themed lands based on How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, Super Nintendo characters, and classic Universal monsters like Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, and more.
