Man Dies After Riding Epic Universe Roller Coaster
One of the most popular thrill rides at the new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando remained closed on Thursday following the fatality of a guest after riding the roller coaster. Here is the latest on this developing situation.
Man Dies After Becoming Unresponsive on Epic Universe Thrill Ride
Local authorities in Orlando confirmed that a man in his 30s became unresponsive while riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal's Epic Universe theme park on Wednesday. The victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to theme park officials.
The man was identified as 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala. He was reportedly on the attraction with his mother when he became unresponsive roughly halfway through the ride. While it was not initially clear how he died, the Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that he suffered “multiple blunt impact injuries."
The District Nine Medical Examiner's Office performed an exam on Thursday to determine the cause of death, ruling it an accident. The report did not indicate what part of the body sustained the injuries.
Stardust Racers was closed on Thursday. It has not been confirmed if and when the ride will reopen.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident. A spokesperson for Universal said the park is cooperating with the Sheriff's Office's investigation. Universal released a statement saying that they were "devastated by this event."
About Epic Universe and Stardust Racers
Epic Universe opened in May to much fanfare, becoming the first major theme park to open in over 20 years in the U.S. Universal's third major theme park in Orlando joins Islands of Adventure and the original Universal Studios in the theme park mecca. The Universal Orlando Resort also features a full-scale water park, several onsite hotels in a variety of price ranges, and a dining and entertainment district.
Epic Universe has drawn huge crowds since it opened earlier in the year, featuring over 50 attractions spread out over five immersive worlds. Stardust Racers is located in the Celestial Park world of the park. The other worlds include Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic.
Stardust Racers is one of Epic Universe’s most popular attractions. The thrill ride hits speeds up to 62 mph, climbing 133 feet into the air with a 5,000-foot track.
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