Universal Orlando Resort sadly saw a tragic event transpire at one of its parks in September. A park attendee unfortunately died after riding Stardust Racers, one of the more popular attractions at Epic Universe. Since then, Universal has provided updates as it has sought to look into the matter. Now, nearly three weeks after the incident, the roller coaster is set to be reopened to the general public. Ahead of that, one of Universal’s top executives penned a letter, and it sheds light on how the company has been preparing for the reopening.
The incident took place on September 17, at which point the attendee – who was later identified as 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala – was found to be unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers. According to Fox 35, Zavala was still in ride restraints and had no pulse when paramedics arrived on the scene. Zavala was eventually transported to a hospital where he died. Ultimately, the Orange County Medical Examiner ruled that the death was accidental and caused by “multiple blunt force injuries.”
provided some answers in the aftermath of the incident:
much-visited Epic Universe, it seems Universal is taking steps to improve safety accordingly. It should also be mentioned that this situation marks the first death to have occurred at EU since it opened its doors in May 2025. As of this writing, the state of Florida has not initiated an investigation into this roller coaster death, as it’s not legally required to due to a law passed in 1992. Of course, despite that, Universal still invited investigators to look into the matter.
With Stardust Racers opening back up this weekend, all who ride the attraction will be safe while doing so. Karen Irwin seems confident that there won’t be another serious incident, as closed out her letter saying she was “confident [Universal] will continue to deliver extraordinary guest experiences that make our Destination so special.”