Orlando, Friday, 19 September 2025.
A man in his 30s, identified as Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers at Epic Universe on Wednesday and later died; the autopsy cited multiple blunt-impact injuries, a finding that is both unexpected and the most urgent fact for operators. For park and retail professionals, this raises immediate operational and regulatory priorities: the attraction remains closed while local and state investigators probe whether the event stemmed from an on-ride medical emergency or blunt-force trauma. Key issues to monitor include restraint and seat ergonomics on a coaster that reaches about 100 km/h and 40.5 m in height over roughly 1 524 m of track, onboard telemetry and CCTV data capture, documented pre-ride medical messaging, evacuation and post-incident medical response protocols, and crisis communication that balances guest privacy with regulatory transparency. Expect scrutiny from Florida regulators and potential short-term impacts on guest confidence and operational procedures across similar high-thrill attractions.