Death on high-speed roller coaster in Florida deemed accidental | Florida
The Florida sheriff’s office has concluded that the death of a 32-year-old man while riding a high-speed roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park was accidental.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala suffered a deep cut on the left side of his forehead, a fracture in the bone spur above his eye and bleeding on the top of his skull, according to a report released Friday by the local medical examiner. Other injuries included bruises to her arms and abdomen, a broken nose and a broken right femur.
The Orlando medical examiner had already determined that Zavala’s death was the result of blunt force trauma. Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office determined that Epic Universe employees followed all safety procedures and were not negligent in what was ruled an accident.
Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park.
Security footage showed Zavala appearing “engaged and healthy” when the ride began in the park, but was collapsed and unresponsive by the end, according to the sheriff’s report.
Witnesses said they saw Zavala bleeding from his face and leaning over his seat when the roller coaster stopped. Anna Marshall, a doctor waiting in line for the ride, told investigators that Zavala appeared “hunched over and covered in blood” as the train returned to the platform. He said one of his arms was hanging out to the side and his femur was “broken in half and resting behind the boarding chair.”
Marshall helped Zavala, who uses a wheelchair, after the incident. His girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, who was sitting next to him, said Zavala had metal rods in his back from previous spinal surgery.
Family members told investigators that spinal cord atrophy, which was behind Zavala’s disability, played no role in his death on Sept. 17.
When the ride stopped, Zavala suffered serious facial injuries and was restrained by the lap bar, which could not be released, for approximately ten minutes, according to Universal paramedic Sebastian Torres.
Cruz-Robles told investigators that a ride operator had to push the lap bar down several times before it locked in place and that it appeared to be too tight on laps. He said during the first descent of the ride, Zavala was thrown forward and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them. He hit his head several more times as he struggled unsuccessfully to hold him back throughout the journey.
The sheriff’s office noted that warning signs at the vehicle entrance warn guests of sudden drops and acceleration. It also advised against cycling with “back, neck or similar physical conditions” or after recent surgery or conditions that may be worsened by riding.
Zavala’s parents shared that in 2020, his femur broke and required surgery, and in 2010, he had hip surgery following a dislocation.
The rollercoaster, a dual-launch design that reaches speeds of up to 100 km per hour, officially opened to Epic Universe visitors in May.
The verdict on Zavala’s death came after a jury last December awarded $310 million in damages to the family of a 14-year-old boy who was thrown to his death from a dismantled freefall vehicle at Orlando Icon Park in March 2022. This incident prompted Florida lawmakers to pass the Tire Sampson Act to strengthen safety requirements for attractions at amusement parks.
Associated Press contributed reporting
