The death of a 32-year-old man on a high-speed roller coaster at Universal's Epic Universe theme park in Orlando has been ruled accidental by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died from blunt-impact trauma while riding the dual-launch coaster, which reaches speeds of up to 62 mph.
According to the medical examiner's report, Zavala suffered a deep cut on his forehead, a fractured bone ridge above his eye, bleeding above his skull, a broken nose, a fractured right thigh bone, and bruises on his arms and abdomen. Security footage showed him appearing 'engaged and well' at the ride's start but slumped and unresponsive at its conclusion.
Witnesses, including a physician waiting in line, described Zavala bleeding from his face and leaning over in his seat. His girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, who sat next to him, said a ride operator had to push the lap bar down multiple times before it locked, and that it felt too tight. She reported that Zavala was thrown forward during the first descent, striking his head repeatedly.
Universal paramedic Sebastian Torres stated that when the ride halted, Zavala remained restrained by the lap bar, which could not be released for about ten minutes. The sheriff's office found that employees followed all safety procedures and were not negligent. Warning signs at the ride entrance cautioned against riding with back, neck, or similar physical conditions.
Zavala's family said his spinal cord atrophy, which required him to use a wheelchair, had no role in his death. He had metal rods in his back from prior spinal surgery. The incident follows a $310 million award to the family of a 14-year-old boy killed on a free-fall ride at Orlando's Icon Park in 2022, which led to Florida's Tyre Sampson Act for stricter amusement ride safety.
