News Guest dies, found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers

[Comped]

In Florida it's public record.

I'm just not creepy enough to request it.

Public record usually doesn't start until a piece of paperwork is completed... And I'm not sure we'd have much to go on this early on anyway (an initial report if that, and that would be kind of useless). Anyone requesting the investigation's paperwork will need to wait some time before a full picture can be given.

And if there is any chance this could be a criminal investigation, that's exempt from public records laws anyway.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Seriously. If local authorities would release information, it would end tiktok (what I perceive to be) semi-truths like this.

It would not. If anything, preliminary information would just fuel more semi-truths and conspiracies, especially if anything turns out to be incorrect.

 

[Comped]

It would not. If anything, preliminary information would just fuel more semi-truths and conspiracies, especially if anything turns out to be incorrect.

Well it turns out, per a GoFundMe from the family, that the victim was in a wheelchair. So that report from Reddit was right.

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

‘Help! Help!’ Cause of death revealed for guest who rode Stardust Racers at Epic Universe

In the wake of a guest who died after riding an Epic Universe roller coaster on Wednesday, the Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner has released the cause of death.

www.clickorlando.com

Another eyewitness account that just adds more questions than answers, this guest said his leg looked broken, makes me wonder if the legs were just in an unnatural position since he was unconscious and had lower extremity issues, it also sounds like he was very secure in his seat and bleeding from his chest and not the face.

More speculation but I wonder if the blunt force injuries were chest injuries and not head injuries, if he couldn’t use his legs to stabilize himself he may have been tossed forward and backward breaking ribs in the process. That could lead to vomiting blood on his chest.

I believe the cause of death specified head injuries, if its possible for the chest thing to happen (which it shouldn't be if this ride was tested right) then oh god this ride was a disaster waiting to happen, you can't have a ride that has intense G forces be THAT lethal if someone passed out for a bit.

 

[cjkeating]

I think it is very unlikely it has something to do with the guest passing out on the ride. I am sure many people have passed out on rides with similar restraints and been fine afterwards.

 

[ToTBellHop]

That man in the video is a real jerk. While it does sound like some mistakes were made, if I were a Team Member and a guest came back in this state, I’d be freaking out, too. People die after going on a ride pretty frequently but from the details we have, this seems particularly horrific.

Thank goodness that man got his phone back, though. That really should have been the TM’s number one priority at the time. /s

I really do feel for the TMs.

 

[Jrb1979]

Apparently there was an article posted where people in the mans group said he had chest pains after riding Hiccups Wing Gliders. My guess is he had a pre existing condition which caused him to pass out.

 

[Disstevefan1]

This is tragic. My thoughts and prayers to the family.

We all are speculating at this point.

Here are my guesses -

Rider fainted on ride and when passed out got banged around and that caused the blunt force injuries?

Someone was able to sneak their phone on the ride, lost grip of it, it went flying becoming a deadly projectile hit the rider, knocking them out, and when rider was passed out, got banged around and while passed out received more blunt force injuries?

Undiagnosed medical condition, rider passed out on ride and when passed out got banged around and that caused the blunt force injuries?

 

[My95cobras]

Seriously. If local authorities would release information, it would end tiktok (what I perceive to be) semi-truths like this.

Ah yes. Damn authorities…. They should have this investigation done in minutes.

This will take weeks if not months to complete.

Be realistic.

 

[mkt]

Someone was able to sneak their phone on the ride, lost grip of it, it went flying becoming a deadly projectile hit the rider, knocking them out, and when rider was passed out, got banged around and while passed out received more blunt force injuries?

That would be a massive concern, since you have to go through a metal detector just to board the ride - and those are some of the most sensitive ones I've ever encountered.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Apparently there was an article posted where people in the mans group said he had chest pains after riding Hiccups Wing Gliders. My guess is he had a pre existing condition which caused him to pass out.

If you're talking about this, it's a different guy that is the same age:

Source: https://www.clickorlando.com/theme-...st-who-rode-stardust-racers-at-epic-universe/

 

[danlb_2000]

This is tragic. My thoughts and prayers to the family.

We all are speculating at this point.

Here are my guesses -

Rider fainted on ride and when passed out got banged around and that caused the blunt force injuries?

Someone was able to sneak their phone on the ride, lost grip of it, it went flying becoming a deadly projectile hit the rider, knocking them out, and when rider was passed out, got banged around and while passed out received more blunt force injuries?

Undiagnosed medical condition, rider passed out on ride and when passed out got banged around and that caused the blunt force injuries?

Would the ride seat and restraints be designed for the eventuality of a ride loosing consciousness? I would think momentary loss of consciousness would occasionally happen on an intense coaster.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Would the ride seat and restraints be designed for the eventuality of a ride loosing consciousness? I would think momentary loss of consciousness would occasionally happen on an intense coaster.

One would think so?

And we also must consider they have already had thousands and thousands of riders on this ride already with no issues.

It will be interesting to see the final findings on this.

 

[Jrb1979]

Would the ride seat and restraints be designed for the eventuality of a ride loosing consciousness? I would think momentary loss of consciousness would occasionally happen on an intense coaster.

It does happen. Kings Dominion has a coaster in I305 that most people grey out on during the first drop.

 

[dolbyman]

That man in the video is a real jerk.

I am always skeptical of people that do not use a lav mic correctly (and that kind of social media in particular.. could be all for the clicks)

 

[Master Yoda]

Ah yes. Damn authorities…. They should have this investigation done in minutes.

This will take weeks if not months to complete.

Be realistic.

So, are you saying that the machine that they use on CSI, where they stick in a swab dipped in "evidence" and instantly produce a 3D, MRI-style video of the entire crime is fake?

 

[Jrb1979]

There has been an update from the death at Epic Universe

ORLANDO, Fla. —
Multiple blunt impact injuries have been ruled the cause of death for the man found unresponsive on an Epic Universe ride on Wednesday.

Zavala did not fall from the ride. Instead, an autopsy performed on Thursday morning shows that the cause of death is “multiple blunt impact injuries,” according to Chief Medical Examiner Joshua Stephany.

The manner of death is accident per the Medical Examiner.

The man, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, was found unresponsive after riding on the Stardust Racers roller coaster, according to Universal Orlando officials. It appears he went unconscious during the ride and his head struck the head rest and other areas that could be hit while in the restraints.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office said off-duty deputies responded to a "man down" call at the theme park.

The man was then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Statement from Universal:
“Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night. The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest's loved ones. We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.”

Our thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. Zavala. We’ll keep this post updated as soon as confirmed updates occur. Please be cautious about unverified reports circulating elsewhere.

 

[mkt]

There's a gofundme from the family.

Donate to In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, organized by Veronica Collazo

In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala It is with heavy h… Veronica Collazo needs your support for In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala

www.gofundme.com

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

There has been an update from the death at Epic Universe

The man, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, was found unresponsive after riding on the Stardust Racers roller coaster, according to Universal Orlando officials. It appears he went unconscious during the ride and his head struck the head rest and other areas that could be hit while in the restraints.

If this is true, then this will be closed for quite some time until they redesign the trains.

 

[Andrew C]

There's a gofundme from the family.

Donate to In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, organized by Veronica Collazo

In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala It is with heavy h… Veronica Collazo needs your support for In Loving Memory of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala

www.gofundme.com

I feel bad for his family...but am the only one who doesn't like these pages? Just in general?