The family of the man who died riding a rollercoaster at Epic Universe has heard from “multiple” other riders injured on the popular attraction — accusing Universal Orlando of missing “multiple warning signs” before his brutal death.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s family said that others reported similar injuries as those that killed the 32-year-old wheelchair user on the Stardust Racers coaster on Sept. 17, Florida Today reported.
“The multiple Stardust Racers riders who have come forward to the family and our office lead us to believe that Kevin’s case was not an isolated incident,” their attorney, Ben Crump, told a press conference.
Zavala, who had spinal cord atrophy and used a wheelchair, died from blunt impact injuries after a spin on the coaster with his girlfriend, officials determined.
Crump’s investigative team “confirmed that Kevin suffered repeated head injuries during the ride and was unconscious for the majority of the duration of the ride,” attorney Natalie Jackson, co-director of litigation for Crump’s Central Florida office, said last week.
Zavala also suffered lacerations, she said.
Multiple eyewitnesses recalled the horrific scene as Zavala, who was in the front seat, was slumped over with blood everywhere, his family said, accusing park employees of seeming unprepared to handle an emergency.
Crump said the family believes that Universal Orlando missed “multiple warning signs” regarding safety issues with the coaster and said the park must take accountability for the incident.
Universal has self-reported four incidents regarding the Stardust Racers, and in each case they concluded the injuries were caused by “pre-existing conditions,” Crump said.
The family shared a message from a woman who allegedly was hurt on Stardust Racers in May. She claims she lost consciousness, suffered a concussion and injured her spine.
He added that multiple requests for Universal to provide videos of the incident have been denied.
Karen Irwin, President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, maintained to employees that the rid was functioning normally, that all equipment was intact during the ride and staff “following procedures,” during the incident, according to an internal memo
Stardust Races, a dual-launch coaster, zips riders along the track at speeds up to 62 miles per hour and reaches a height of 133 feet.
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