Man dies from ‘multiple blunt impact injuries’ after riding Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers roller coaster

An investigation was underway in Florida after a 32-year-old man died after riding a roller coaster at Universal’s new theme park, Epic Universe, in Orlando.

On Wednesday, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers, one of the park’s most popular roller coaster attractions. He later died at a local hospital from “multiple blunt impact injuries,” the Orange County medical examiner said Thursday.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed that an investigator was sent to the park on Sept. 18. “Universal has been extremely cooperative and has complied with all required notifications,” spokesperson Aaron Keller said in a statement. “This is an ongoing investigation, and more information will be released as it is available.”

What is Stardust Racers? When did it open?

Stardust Racers opened with Epic Universe, a new theme park at Universal Orlando, in May 2025. It quickly became one of its most popular rides.

According to the Epic Universe website, Stardust Racers, located in the Celestial Park area of the theme park, is a dual-launch roller coaster that races up to 62 mph along 5,000 feet of track, reaching heights of 133 feet. It features “inversions” and has the two coasters cross paths with one another along the ride.

How common are amusement-park-related accidents and deaths?

Though accidents, injuries and deaths that occur at amusement parks are reported in the news, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, which represents theme parks and attractions worldwide, states that “the chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park is 1 in 15.5 million rides taken.”

There is no federal oversight of amusement parks in the U.S. The industry is largely self-regulated, and no single agency tracks accidents, injuries or deaths. (The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates mobile amusement park attractions and carnival attractions.)

In Florida, which contains some of the world’s most popular theme parks, including Universal and Walt Disney World, smaller parks are regulated by the state for safety, while major theme parks with over 1,000 employees self-report injuries under a state agreement.

According to People, two people reported medical issues after riding Stardust Racers in June: A 63-year-old man experienced dizziness and an altered state of consciousness, and a 47-year-old woman reported numbness and visual disturbance. Both had preexisting conditions, and no other details were reported.