Authorities have released a final investigative report into the death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala after he rode the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida.
What Happened
Zavala was found unresponsive after boarding the ride on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. An autopsy by the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office attributed his death to "multiple blunt impact injuries" and ruled it an accidental death.
Investigation Findings
On Dec. 11, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced that its investigation also concluded Zavala's death was accidental and that "no criminal acts occurred in this case," closing the sheriff’s office's role in the matter.
The final report includes two interviews with Zavala’s girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz‑Robles, who rode beside him. She told investigators it took several attempts to secure the lap bar around him. She said she noticed the lap bar sat "too low" and that a ride operator "continued to push on the lap bar...until it locked in place."
An employee who assisted with the restraint told investigators they "followed proper procedures," gave the lap bar a "small push" until the indicator showed it was safe, and then visually rechecked the restraint before clearing the train to depart.
According to Cruz‑Robles, on the coaster’s first drop Zavala "partially came out of his seat and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them," striking it repeatedly as the ride continued. She said she tried to hold him back but could not, and because they were in the middle of the ride her calls for help were not heard until the train neared the station.
Ride staff who responded said Zavala remained secured by the lap bar but had multiple facial injuries and a "significant amount of blood loss." Investigators reviewed sworn statements, video surveillance, the medical examiner’s findings, and Epic Universe’s standard operating procedures.
Medical History
Zavala’s parents, Carlos Rodriguez Ortiz and Anne Zavala, told investigators their son had been born with spinal cord atrophy at the T2–T5 vertebrae and had undergone surgeries during his life. They said he used a wheelchair, had a prior hip dislocation that required surgery, and had sustained a previous femur fracture. In a second interview, Cruz‑Robles said she had only recently learned of his earlier hip injury and suggested that condition "could have been the cause of him coming so far out of the seat."
Conclusion and Family Response
Investigators concluded that Epic Universe employees "followed their Standards Operating Procedures" and did not act in a careless or neglectful manner. "Based upon the totality of the circumstances," the sheriff’s office said, the case was deemed an accidental death and closed.
After the incident, Zavala’s family retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to conduct an independent review. A GoFundMe set up for the family described Zavala as having "a heart full of compassion, love, and understanding," and remembered him as a devoted son, brother, uncle and friend.
Key Dates: Incident: Sept. 17 | Sheriff’s Office Report Released: Dec. 11
