Bodycam Footage Reveals Frantic Aftermath of Fatal Rollercoaster Incident at Universal Orlando
Newly released bodycam footage has emerged, detailing the distressing moments after a disabled man was fatally injured aboard a rollercoaster at Universal Studios Orlando. Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a 32-year-old man who used a wheelchair, died of blunt force trauma following a ride on the Stardust Racers attraction in the Florida theme park last September.
Emergency Response Captured on Video
The Orange County Sheriff's Office has now released a series of bodycam clips taken from the scene that night, showing the frantic work of first responders attempting to save Zavala. Deputies raced to the theme park to find emergency workers performing CPR on Zavala for nearly fifteen minutes. In one video, a team member can be heard saying, 'He's still blue in the face,' as they worked desperately to revive him.
First responders used a defibrillator on Zavala before securing him to a stretcher and wheeling him away from the scene to a hospital, where he later died. His girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, watched as the teams performed these life-saving measures and later gave a statement to deputies, which was captured on video.
Witness Accounts and Scene Details
In her statement, Cruz-Robles described the incident, saying, 'We went on the ride, he doesn't have any support on his legs. They pushed it about three times maybe four,' referring to the knee restraint. When asked by a deputy if ride workers pushed it, she confirmed, 'yes.' She added, 'I saw him on the first drop, I saw him hit his head, I tried to hold him, I couldn't hold him. He just went up and hit.'
Regarding the seat, she noted, 'It looked like it was tied, but it wasn't - he doesn't have support in his legs so he can't just stay in place.' Other videos show deputies arriving at the amusement park, with one asking about the situation. A response indicated, 'I have no idea. He was on the ride. From what the medical services told me, it sounds like a massive cardiac event.' Another deputy mentioned Zavala was bleeding from his head and had a 'massive laceration.'
Investigation Findings and Ride Specifications
Later, a deputy inspected the ride cart, noting blood and speculating, 'I guess he wasn't strapped in all the way.' Another deputy shone a light at the cart, questioning, 'Is this brain matter? Or from puking?' A doctor on the ride told investigators she saw Zavala looking 'lifeless' and slouched over after it stopped, with his femur broken in half and sitting on the back of his chair.
In subsequent interviews, Cruz-Robles revealed Zavala had metal rods in his back and a hip condition. Zavala's family and their attorney, Ben Crump, maintain that he struck his head on a metal bar due to a ride malfunction. However, investigators reviewed the case and determined his death was accidental, closing their probe after finding the ride functioned normally.
Stardust Racers is a high-speed rollercoaster that hurtles along at up to 62 miles per hour, reaching heights of 133 feet on a 5,000-foot track. It features two coasters that race and cross paths, designed to mimic a comet racing through space. Universal Epic Universe's website warns the ride includes sudden acceleration, climbing, tilting, inversion, and dropping.
Ride Closure and Reopening
The ride launched on May 22, 2025, as one of the most highly-anticipated attractions at the theme park. It closed following Zavala's death and reopened in October after an internal review concluded it 'functioned properly.' The bodycam footage provides a harrowing glimpse into the emergency response, highlighting the tragic outcome of this incident at a popular tourist destination.
