Epic Universe Sets Roller Coaster Reopening Date Following Guest Death

Universal is preparing to reopen Stardust Racers just over two weeks after the highly publicized death of a rider.

According to an internal email sent to Universal Team Members — which we have seen and can verify the authenticity of — the Epic Universe coaster is set to reopen on October 4th. This will be the first time the ride has been operational since the September 17th death of rider Kevin Rodriguez Zavala.

The email, which is attributed to Universal Orlando president Karen Irwin, the park was reopening Stardust Racers after an “extensive review” of the ride with “local officials,” as well as the ride’s manufacturer and an independent engineering expert to confirm “the ride systems functioned properly throughout the boarding process, the duration of the ride, and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station.”

Despite that, the email also specifies that the park will be updating its “operational procedures” and signs to alert riders to “physical eligibility requirements.” This is in line with the findings of the Orlando Sentinel, which reported on Friday that “Universal’s Safety and Accessibility Guidelines shows they were updated since Zavala’s death to no longer include Stardust Racers as a ride in which team members will accommodate transferring riders from their wheelchairs to the ride vehicle, as was done with Zavala. Instead, those guests must be able to walk to the ride.”

These changes are likely related to the fact that Zavala, who had spinal cord atrophy since birth and used a wheelchair, had transferred from the chair to the ride vehicle on the day of his death. According to those who were on the scene, Zavala was found slumped over in his seat when the ride concluded, and several witnesses reported that his head kept banging on the vehicle’s headrest. Employees and later paramedics performed CPR on Zavala; however, he was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

The Zavala family and their attorneys have insisted that Zavala’s condition played no role in his death. The family’s lead attorney, Ben Crump, has also argued that Universal ignored several warning signs about the attraction.

While Universal is reopening Stardust Racers on October 4th, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office reiterated Friday that the case remains an open and active death investigation. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on the case as it develops.