Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s family is pushing for Stardust Racers to remain closed and for Universal to be transparent on what happened after Rodriguez Zavala died[1] riding the roller coaster at the new Epic Universe[2].
Representing the family, famed civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said Rodriguez Zavala didn’t suffer a medical issue on Stardust Racers[3], as he was unconscious for the majority of the ride and died from multiple blunt force trauma.
“How tragic it would be if they let this ride go back into operation without knowing what caused this son to be killed,” said Crump, who urged Universal to put “safety over profits.”
Witnesses reported that Rodriguez Zavala, 32, hit his head against metal on the ride, Crump said.
And Crump got angry at any suggestion that Rodriguez Zavala’s disabilities played a role in his death. Rodriguez Zavala used a wheelchair because he was born with a spinal cord condition.
“It would be an outrageous thing to suggest that his disability was what caused him to be killed on their ride. It would be an insult to disabled Americans, disabled human beings all over the world,” Crump said. “They don’t get to blame Kevin for his death. We’re not going to let that happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”
His family said Rodriguez Zavala lived a fully independent life. He graduated from college with a bachelor’s in game design, had a girlfriend and drove.
Lovingly dubbed a “roller coaster freak” by his loved ones, Rodriguez Zavala enjoyed visiting the theme parks and thrill rides. He rode roller coasters many times without any problems, his attorneys said.
His loved ones called him an old soul, a good listener and a kind person who had been delighted to go to Epic Universe with his girlfriend.
His funeral is scheduled to run from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday at Funeraria San Juan Funeral Home[4], located at 3189 S. John Young Pky. in Kissimmee.
Rodriguez Zavala did not have medical restrictions that would have prevented him from riding Stardust Racers that day, his family’s lawyers said.
When discussing ride warnings for riders who have back or neck problems, Crump said Universal employees hadn’t discouraged Rodriguez Zavala from riding and actually helped him transfer into the front row.
Universal Orlando Resort’s President Karen Irwin[5] wrote that the ride had been functioning[6] properly and employees followed protocol after an internal investigation following Rodriguez Zavala’s death.
“The attraction remains closed as we continue through a comprehensive review process in cooperation with the ride manufacturer of record. Safety is, and always will be, at the forefront of everything we do,” according to Irwin’s memo to employees over the weekend.
But Crump and his team argued there had to be more to the story because of the nature of Rodriguez Zavala’s death, and said they planned to bring restraint and disability experts as part of their probe.
“Safety is more than whether a machine is broken. If a ride’s restraint fails to properly protect a rider, then that is a safety failure,” said Natalie Jackson[7], a lawyer with Crump’s firm.
Crump is a civil rights lawyer who has made headlines for working high-profile cases, including Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and victims of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. He also worked another amusement park tragedy when 14-year-old Tyre Sampson fell to his death at FreeFall ride at Orlando’s Icon Park. Sampson’s family was awarded[8] $310 million in damages in 2024.
“It’s really shocking to me that two years after Tyre Sampson, that we’re here at another tragic death related to an amusement ride. It’s troubling. We have to get this right,” Crump said. “We can’t have a third time.”
Stardust Racers is a space-themed dual launch coaster that goes up to 62 mph and up to 133 feet in the air. Universal opened Epic Universe, a new theme park near the Orange County Convention Center, just before Memorial Day weekend.
Rodriguez Zavala’s family set up a GoFundMe[9] and has raised more than $27,000.
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References
- ^ after Rodriguez Zavala died (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Epic Universe (www.universalorlando.com)
- ^ Stardust Racers (www.universalorlando.com)
- ^ Funeraria San Juan Funeral Home (www.funerariasanjuan.com)
- ^ Karen Irwin (www.nbcuniversal.com)
- ^ ride had been functioning (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Natalie Jackson (bencrump.com)
- ^ was awarded (apnews.com)
- ^ set up a GoFundMe (www.gofundme.com)