News Guest dies, found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers

[DisneyHead123]

It’s been awhile since I rode coasters - I’m not understanding why a ride like this has no shoulder harnesses.

 

[Andrew C]

It’s been awhile since I rode coasters - I’m not understanding why a ride like this has no shoulder harnesses.

Most/many new inverted coasted don't. VelociCoaster is another, holds you in at the waist. Safety restraints have come a long way, and are seen as better than the over the shoulder predecessors.

 

[Jrb1979]

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

I don't see it happening. It would costs millions to do that. Adding over the shoulder restraints wouldn't change much. Instead of hitting his head on the head rest, he would hit the restraints instead.

 

[Andrew25]

Just a few notes:

• The ride restraint utilized has been in use for quite a while now. I think Mack first used it on Blue Fire at Europa Park.

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.

Where is this taken from?

 

[cjkeating]

The ride restraint utilized has been in use for quite a while now. I think Mack first used it on Blue Fire at Europa

Correct. Blue Fire has been open since 2009 and the same restraint design has been used on many coasters around the world since then.

100s of millions if not over a billion ride cycles will have happened with these restraints without such injuries.

 

[Comped]

Where is this taken from?

I searched and could only find the article reproduced exactly on Facebook without any attribution...

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Adding over the shoulder restraints wouldn't change much. Instead of hitting his head on the head rest, he would hit the restraints instead.

Possibly without fatal force though?

The new restrains used on space mountain in Paris might be the safest option.

This is a truly tragic accident. I don’t think there’s anyway this coaster reopens anytime soon.

For those who have been on - is it particularly rough or intense? What coaster would you compare it to?

 

[danlb_2000]

Is it possible the restraint didn't close completely allowing him to bounce around more then expected?

 

[ToTBellHop]

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

Kind of surprised Universal didn’t offer to cover these expenses. But, maybe they have? If not, perhaps they suspect wrongdoing on the part of the rider. Loss prevention teams are usually rather generous when there are violent accidents.

 

[mkt]

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

You're not alone in your complete sentiment.

 

[mkt]

Kind of surprised Universal didn’t offer to cover these expenses. But, maybe they have? If not, perhaps they suspect wrongdoing on the part of the rider. Loss prevention teams are usually rather generous when there are violent accidents.

If it's like Disney's historical responses, accepting coverage for those expenses usually comes with signing away a lot of rights.

 

[drkarcher22]

If it's like Disney's historical responses, accepting coverage for those expenses usually comes with signing away a lot of rights.

It’s absolutely this, if they cover it that can be used as an example of them admitting culpability, so they would have to get them to sign something that clears them, and obviously the family would not be doing anything of the sort

 

[ToTBellHop]

It’s absolutely this, if they cover it that can be used as an example of them admitting culpability, so they would have to get them to sign something that clears them, and obviously the family would not be doing anything of the sort

I had an incident with a major travel company. They offered to cover all medical expenses and didn’t make me sign anything. So this certainly isn’t always the case. Probably depends on overall negligence. If there was no failure and the rider technically shouldn’t have ridden based upon posted warnings, this would be an interesting court case should that come to pass.

The key requirement is

Is a park responsible if you pass out? I’d guess not as it’s common on intense thrill rides.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

For those who have been on - is it particularly rough or intense? What coaster would you compare it to?

I'm not a HUGE coaster person. The most intense I have ridden was Rockin' Rollercoaster, Hagrid's, Mummy.

I was riding my high of conquering my fear of Incredicoaster the month before we went to Epic, and my FOMO took over. I had intended on riding the yellow track since I had read it was less intense, but accidentally ended up on the green track.

It was the most intense ride I've ever done. It was smooth, and even the inversion was super seamless. But the near constant up and down motion going over hills is what I remember being really rough. For me, at least. And I've done several launches, but these seemed more intense to me. I personally have nothing else to compare it to, but I know a lot of people tend to compare it to Velocicoaster.

I could absolutely see how someone would be thrown around if unconscious. And if they rode toward the back it would be even worse. It'll be interesting to see what other information comes out about this. Like, there must be others who have passed out on this ride.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'm not a HUGE coaster person. The most intense I have ridden was Rockin' Rollercoaster, Hagrid's, Mummy.

I was riding my high of conquering my fear of Incredicoaster the month before we went to Epic, and my FOMO took over. I had intended on riding the yellow track since I had read it was less intense, but accidentally ended up on the green track.

It was the most intense ride I've ever done. It was smooth, and even the inversion was super seamless. But the near constant up and down motion going over hills is what I remember being really rough. For me, at least. And I've done several launches, but these seemed more intense to me. I personally have nothing else to compare it to, but I know a lot of people tend to compare it to Velocicoaster.

I could absolutely see how someone would be thrown around if unconscious. And if they rode toward the back it would be even worse. It'll be interesting to see what other information comes out about this. Like, there must be others who have passed out on this ride.

I just rode it a few times a couple of weeks ago and agree with how you have described it - I thought it was amazingly fun, but it is very constant with its forces and intensity, there aren't a lot of breaks. Velocicoaster is a pretty good comparison but that I felt was more big movements with some less intense moments in between, this was more constant.

I am not a super duper coaster guy but did do a number at Dollywood recently and I found lightning rod to be a bit more intense, but maybe the nature of it being a wooden hybrid type. Also found the one that made me most sick and banged my head the most was Mystery Mine, but that is a completely different experience

I didn't notice anything specific about Stardust that made it like soooooo much more intense than other comparable coaster, but maybe just that consistent level of intensity was the issue for this individual?

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I don't see it happening. It would costs millions to do that. Adding over the shoulder restraints wouldn't change much. Instead of hitting his head on the head rest, he would hit the restraints instead.

So you think they will just keep it as is? Add a warning that says, "If there's a chance you could pass out, don't ride this coaster!" ?

 

[mkt]

For those who have been on - is it particularly rough or intense? What coaster would you compare it to?

IMO, I find it to be a bigger and smoother take on Velocicoaster

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

So you think they will just keep it as is? Add a warning that says, "If there's a chance you could pass out, don't ride this coaster!" ?

Ngl thats an absolute insane warning and should be laughed off and hold absolutely no weight. Most people don't even know if they're going to pass out. These coasters should be designed so that the rag dolls/mannequins they tested it with should be under NO danger. Coasters like this should be exceedingly safe and passing out is not an acceptance reason for safety to be ignored. The coaster needs to undergo changes. This should not happen, at all.

 

[Comped]

So you think they will just keep it as is? Add a warning that says, "If there's a chance you could pass out, don't ride this coaster!" ?

Too much risk in all honest. They'd redesign restraints or something to prevent it before adding that warning (it'd scare too many people from riding and is pretty vague in its language legally speaking).

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Too much risk in all honest. They'd redesign restraints or something to prevent it before adding that warning (it'd scare too many people from riding and is pretty vague in its language legally speaking).

yeah that wouldn’t even be a bandaid fix. Not to mention this is already a death in less than half a year? How many more people could be claimed by this coaster before that warning is deemed “insufficient”

This is 100% on the park/coaster company imo and needs to shut down the coaster until they fix it