Universal Epic Universe: Who Was Florida Man, Kevin Zavala? Died At 32 On Stardust Racers Ride

Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida, has once again put the spotlight on America's theme-park regulations. Over the years, we have seen so many youngsters losing their lives in theme parks, yet there are no changes in the US policies regarding the safety of theme park visitors. On September 17, 2025, a 32-year-old man became unresponsive while being on the famous 'Stardust Racers Ride', which is basically a roller-coaster ride.

Universal Epic Universe tragedy: 32-year-old guest from Florida named Kevin Rodriguez Zavala dies on Stardust Racers roller-coaster ride, here's what happened

The dual-launch roller coaster is renowned for reaching an incredible speed of 62 mph and heights of up to 133 feet, along with 5,000 feet of track. Not only this, the Stardust Racers Ride features an inverted criss-cross manoeuvre titled "Celestial Spin", which has two sides racing each other on green and yellow tracks. Earlier this year, on May 22, 2025, Universal Epic Universe opened its gates for guests. Unfortunately, after just three months, it has now been closed for some time due to the unfortunate death of a Florida man named Kevin Rodriguez Zavala.

Talking about what had happened at the Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida, it was a heartbreaking scene at the holiday park. According to a report in PEOPLE, off-duty deputies and witnesses revealed that they had seen the rider being unresponsive after the completion of the Stardust Racers roller-coaster ride. However, after the end of the ride, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was pulled down and was rushed straight to the hospital. Unfortunately, Zavala was declared dead by the medical officials, initiating a thorough investigation into the matter.

Orange-Osceola's Chief Medical Examiner revealed the cause of death via autopsy reports, while Universal Epic Universe spokesperson reacts to the tragedy

Amidst the ongoing investigation into the matter, Orange-Osceola's Chief Medical Examiner, Joshua Stephany, opened up about Kevin Rodriguez Zavala's death. In a conversation with News 6, Joshua shared that the primary cause of death was "multiple blunt impact injuries". He also added that the matter of death is a complete accident, and no foul play was recorded. Amidst all the buzz around the autopsy report in the media, Universal Epic Universe theme park spokesperson also reacted to the death of a 32-year-old Florida man.

The spokesperson provided an official statement to News 6 in which it was clearly mentioned that the Universal Epic Universe theme park will remain closed for some time. Theme park authorities are also committed to fully cooperating with police investigators to bring the ongoing investigation to a close. The spokesperson also added that they're deeply saddened and heartbroken by this tragic event and extended their sincere condolences to Kevin Rodriguez Zavala's family and loved ones. An excerpt from the statement could be read as:

"We are devastated by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest's loved ones. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed."

Florida man's death isn't the first time we have witnessed theme park death, and with the rapid growth in these amusement parks filled with breathtaking rides, there has also been a spike in such tragedies. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, every year, several people die in theme parks, but only a few manage to break into the news headlines. Some recognised theme park deaths include Tyre Sampson (aged 14, died after falling from a ride) at Orlando FreeFall, ICON Park, a 32-year-old woman (name hidden) died after being ejected from The Raven roller coaster at Holiday World, four killed and 17 severely injured in Krug Park's "Big Dipper" Accident, and the list goes on.

How to prevent theme park tragedies? Here are some suggestions for the US authorities that can strengthen theme park rules

After the tragedy, people are digging deep on the internet to find out what kind of rules the US government should apply to minimise these tragedies. Some realistic and actionable steps that can strengthen the safety of these rides include conducting random theme park inspections, transparent reporting of tragedies to identify patterns, requiring ride operators to be certified in emergency cases, and providing clearer medical advisories. We hope that the US authorities will soon take the necessary steps to prevent such tragedies in the future. In the end, while we will say, "While death is inevitable, let's not roll out the red carpet for it with human error."

What are your thoughts on Kevin Rodriguez Zavala's unfortunate death at the Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida? Let us know.

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