NEWS: Woman Sues Over Injuries on Epic Universe Coaster

Just days after the highly publicized death of a guest after riding Stardust Racers at Epic Universe, another guest filed a lawsuit against Universal for injuries allegedly sustained at the theme park.

In late September 2025, guest Sandi Streets filed a negligence lawsuit in Florida state court in Orlando, alleging that she, too, was injured on the Stardust Racers coaster. According to WESH2, Streets rode the ride during an Epic Universe preview in April, prior to the park’s public opening. The suit alleges that during her ride, Streets’ head shook violently and slammed into her seat’s headrest, giving her permanent injuries.

According to Streets’ suit, these injuries have led to disability, medical care expenses, loss of the ability to work, and an exacerbation of a preexisting condition since going on the ride. The filing further accuses Universal of failing to properly restrain her head, and that the theme park failed to adequately warn of “the unsafe and unreasonably dangerous condition” of riding the coaster.

The suit comes on the heels of the highly publicized death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who passed away after riding Stardust Racers earlier in September. Orlando’s medical examiner ruled Zavala’s cause of death to be multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident.

Both Universal and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have said that initial findings show that the ride’s systems functioned normally, its equipment was intact, and Universal workers followed the proper procedures. However, attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Zavala’s family, has disputed these findings, saying that “They are quick to say that, ‘Well, the ride functioned as it was supposed to. Everything works properly.’ Well, just because it didn’t malfunction does not lead us to believe that there were not safety issues because we know something caused him to die.”

Of note, Zavala was born with a spinal condition that required the use of a wheelchair, but was “not under any medical restrictions” that would have prevented him from riding the coaster, according to Crump. Furthermore, according to the family, Zavala was a frequent theme park visitor and roller coaster rider who had never previously had an issue.

Stardust Racers has remained closed since Zavala’s death. As part of a statement to Universal Team Members, which expressed condolences to Zavala’s family and outlined the initial investigation’s findings, Universal Orlando COO Karen Irwin wrote, “The attraction remains closed as we continue to work through a comprehensive review process in cooperation with the ride manufacturer of record. Safety is, and always will be, at the forefront of everything we do.”

Days after the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, another Universal guest has sued the company over injuries allegedly suffered on Stardust Racers. Stay tuned to AllEars for further coverage of these ongoing cases.