Guest Dies After Becoming Unresponsive on Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe

UPDATE: Since this tragic incident, more details have been shared. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has identified the guest who passed away after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe and has released the official cause of death.

According to WESH 2, the guest has been identified as 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala. WESH 2 reports that the cause of death was determined to be “multiple blunt impact injuries.”

Authorities say Zavala became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers on Wednesday. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Universal released the following statement:

Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night. The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.

A GoFundMe page has been created for Kevin, with his family asking for donations to help cover funeral and memorial costs. According to his family,

Kevin was truly one of a kind. He had an old soul—wise beyond his years—with a heart full of compassion, love, and understanding. He was the kind of person who always made time to listen, offer thoughtful advice, and lift others up, even when he was facing challenges of his own. Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit. He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet resilience and humility.

A visitor at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando died after becoming unresponsive during a roller coaster ride, park officials said Wednesday night.

The guest, whose name was not released, was riding the Stardust Racers coaster when they became unresponsive mid-ride, according to Universal Orlando Resorts. The ride was stopped and the guest was taken to a hospital, where they were later declared deceased.

“We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones,” Universal stated. The company said it is cooperating fully with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the incident.

Stardust Racers will remain closed during the investigation. The sheriff’s office has not released any comment so far.