A 32-year-old man, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, has died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park, Epic Universe. The fatal incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, according to law enforcement and medical officials.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded after receiving a “man down” call at around 9 p.m., finding Zavala unresponsive following the ride. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
An autopsy conducted by Dr. Joshua Stephany, Chief Medical Examiner for Orange and Osceola counties, ruled the cause of death to be multiple blunt impact injuries and classified the manner of death as an accident.
Stardust Racers is the dual-launch racing coaster in Epic Universe’s Celestial Park. It features more than 5,000 ft of track, reaches speeds up to 62 mph, and climbs to heights of 133 ft. It is among the park’s most prominent thrill rides, part of Epic Universe’s opening lineup in May 2025.
Universal Orlando released a statement saying it is “devastated by this tragic event” and extends its “sincerest sympathies” to the guest’s loved ones. The park said it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation and confirmed that Stardust Racers remains closed pending review.
No indication has been released that the guest fell from the ride. It remains unclear whether an underlying medical issue played a role. Authorities continue to investigate, and more information will be released when available.
