Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, of Kissimmee died after being found unresponsive on Epic Universe's Stardust Racers roller coaster after riding it on Sept. 17. His family set up a GoFundMe to cover the funeral and memorial expenses.
Stardust Racers is a dual-launch roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 62 miles per hour at Universal Epic Universe.

The family of the man who died after riding a Universal roller coaster doesn’t want the ride to reopen until they know exactly what happened to him and how future incidents will be prevented.

“I don’t want anybody else to feel like I feel right now,” Carlos Rodriguez said of his late son, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who died after riding Stardust Racers at Universal Orlando Resort’s new Epic Universe theme park.

“We want for this never to happen again,” Rodiguez Zavala's sister Lisa Cruz Rodriguez added at a press conference on Sept. 24. “Whether it’s adding more restrictions to the ride or just adding more restraints ... just figuring out a way to make it safer.”

Initial investigations by both Universal and state regulators indicate the ride did not malfunction.

However, attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Rodriguez Zavala’s family, said, “Just because you say there are no malfunctions, that doesn’t mean that there are not safety issues.” His firm is conducting an independent investigation and demanding answers.

What happened to Kevin Rodriguez Zavala?

Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers on Sept. 17, according to Universal and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

A redacted incident report released by the sheriff’s office says CPR was performed on site and en route to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where the 32-year-old Kissimmee resident was later pronounced dead.

An autopsy found Rodriguez Zavala died of “multiple blunt impact injuries" and the manner of death was an accident, according to the chief medical examiner for Orange and Osceola Counties.

Attorney Natalie Jackson, co-director of litigation for Crump’s Central Florida office. said, “Our investigation so far has confirmed that Kevin suffered repeated head injuries during the ride and was unconscious for the majority of the duration of the ride.”

The sheriff’s office incident report noted Rodriguez Zavala had a pre-existing spinal injury and was taking medication.

At the press conference, his parents said he was born with spinal cord atrophy, but noted he led an active, independent life and was a theme park “freak” who loved coasters. Crump added that Rodriguez Zavala was not under medical restrictions that would have prevented him from riding Stardust Racers.

What happened at Stardust Racers?

In a letter to Universal Orlando team members following the incident, resort president Karen Irwin said, “Our internal findings to date confirm that the ride systems functioned as intended, equipment was intact at the ride’s start, throughout the duration of the ride and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station, and our Team Members followed procedures.”

That was echoed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which is investigating on behalf of the state. “The department’s current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information,” FDACS said in a statement, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

Crump said, “We’re not saying there had to be a malfunction” but noted that doesn’t explain how Rodriguez Zavala died of blunt force trauma, which he stressed is not a pre-existing condition.

For now, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Rodriguez Zavala’s death as manslaughter, but explained that that's the "catch-all statute" for deaths that are not natural and that investigators would attempt to determine if there was any culpable negligence.

Is Stardust Racers still closed?

Yes. The ride was closed after the incident.

“The attraction remains closed as we continue to work through a comprehensive review process in cooperation with the ride manufacturer of record,” Irwin said in her letter to team members. “Safety is, and always will be, at the forefront of everything we do.”

Mack Rides, which made the dual-launch coaster, told the USA TODAY Network that it’s actively supporting the investigation and is in close contact with Universal and authorities.

Fatal accidents are extremely rare on theme park attractions, which are regularly checked for safety, as park safety experts have previously told USA TODAY.

“It’s really shocking to me that two years after Tyre Sampson that we’re here at another tragic death related to an amusement ride, “ Crump said. He also represented the family of the Missouri teen who fell to his death from a ride at ICON Park Orlando. “It’s troubling. We have to get this right.”

Contributing: Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network Florida

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Family wants Universal Orlando coaster to stay closed after death – at least for now

Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect