The household of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, the male that passed away after riding a roller rollercoaster at Universal’s Legendary World amusement park in Florida recently, kept in mind the 32-year-old as a roller rollercoaster lover and stated lawyers for the household stated they are carrying out an independent examination right into his fatality.
Zavala ended up being less competent while riding the brand-new Stardust Racers roller rollercoaster at the Universal Orlando Hotel park on Sept. 17, according to a declaration from Universal Orlando Hotel. He was delivered to a medical facility, where he was stated dead, park authorities stated.
He passed away from numerous candid effect injuries, according to the regional clinical inspector, that identified the fashion of fatality to be unintentional.
Kevin Zavala’s moms and dads talk at an interview concerning the Universal Orlando Hotel roller rollercoaster mishap, on Sept. 24, 2025.
WFTV
Zavala’s household has actually considering that maintained civil liberties lawyer Ben Crump, that stated they are carrying out an independent examination to reach the “reality” and identify if anything might have avoided his fatality.
” We need to recognize what occurred,” Crump stated throughout a press instruction in Orlando on Wednesday. “We need to get the answer.”
Zavala’s papa, Carlos Rodriguez Zavala, stated his kid was birthed with a spine degeneration. He utilized a mobility device yet was “not under any type of clinical limitations that would certainly have avoided him” from riding the Stardust Racer, Crump stated.
Zavala finished with a bachelor’s level in video game style and liked to play computer game, his papa stated. He functioned as a task trainer at the household’s service, which aided individuals with specials needs obtain work training and locate work, his papa stated.
” We are truly happy with him,” his papa stated throughout journalism instruction. “He was unbelievable.”
His mommy remembered him as an excellent kid and buddy that was an “angel.”
” I never ever placed any type of restrictions on my kid, no matter what problem he had– he had no restrictions,” she stated throughout journalism instruction in comments equated from Spanish. “He was elevated like his brother or sisters, no various. He was entirely independent.”
She stated he “liked amusement park” and roller rollercoasters and was thrilled to visit Universal’s Legendary World with his sweetheart, that obtained them the tickets and was with him on the trip that evening.
” That last day, on the 17th, he was incredibly delighted throughout the day,” she stated.
Ben Crump talks at an interview concerning the Universal Orlando Hotel roller rollercoaster mishap, on Sept. 24, 2025.
WFTV
His 2 brother or sisters kept in mind Zavala as an incredible sibling, as the household asked for solutions.
” I do not desire anyone else to seem like I really feel right there,” his papa stated. “So please assist me to obtain that done.”
Paul Grinke, a lawyer with Crump’s company, stated they will certainly be uniting numerous specialists, consisting of in style, procedures, production and building and construction, as component of their examination. Crump additionally stated they wish to concentrate on restrictions and will likely be encouraged by handicap specialists.
” We will certainly discover what occurred below, and we’ll attempt to make certain this never ever occurs once more, to ensure that an additional mourning household is not standing in front of you,” Grinke stated.
In this April 10, 2025, data image, visitors ride on the Stardust Racers roller rollercoaster at Legendary World Amusement Park at Universal Hotel Orlando, in Orlando, Fla.
John Raoux/AP, DOCUMENTS
A policeman that replied to the park around 9:20 p.m. Wednesday for a “clinical emergency situation” saw mouth-to-mouth resuscitation underway on Zavala “on the system straight alongside the trip tracks” for the roller rollercoaster, according to a case record launched by the Orange Region Constable’s Workplace.
Zavala was obvious dead at a medical facility soon after 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to the case record.
Zavala had ridden roller rollercoasters “sometimes previously without case,” Natalie Jackson, a lawyer with Crump’s company, stated throughout journalism instruction.
He had actually been resting at the front of the trip, according to Crump.
Based upon witness records, Jackson stated they discovered that Zavala “endured repetitive head injuries throughout the trip and was subconscious for the bulk” of the trip. Crump stated Zavala struck himself versus steel on the trip.
An inner testimonial discovered that the trip systems “worked as planned,” the “tools was undamaged” throughout the trip and park staff members adhered to treatments, according to a memorandum sent out following Zavala’s fatality from Universal Orlando Hotel Head Of State Karen Irwin to team.
A Florida Division of Farming and Customer Providers speaker stated in a declaration to ABC Information on Wednesday that the division’s existing searchings for’ “straighten with those shared by Universal after checking the exact same examinations and assessing the exact same info.”
The state’s examination continues to be recurring, the speaker stated.
Amusement park visitors appreciate an adventure on Stardust Racers within Celestial Park at Universal Legendary World.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune Information Solution using Getty Photos
The Orange Region Constable’s Workplace is additionally carrying out an examination right into the case, and Universal is carrying out a “thorough testimonial procedure together with the trip maker of document,” Irwin stated.
” Safety and security is, and constantly will certainly be, at the center of whatever we do,” she stated in the memorandum.
The trip, which opened up in May together with the remainder of the Legendary World amusement park, gets to rates of approximately 62 miles per hour and elevations approximately 133 feet. It continues to be shut in the wake of Zavala’s fatality in the middle of the examinations.
” We are ravaged by this occasion and expand our sincerest compassions to the visitor’s liked ones,” Universal Orlando Hotel stated in a declaration recently. “We are completely dedicated to accepting this recurring examination.”
Crump’s company additionally stood for the household of 14-year-old Tire Sampson, that was up to his fatality while riding the since-dismantled Orlando FreeFall trip at symbol Park in 2022.
” It’s truly surprising to me that 2 years after Tire Sampson, that we’re below at an additional heartbreaking fatality pertaining to an entertainment trip,” Crump stated. “It is bothering. We need to obtain this right. We can not have a 3rd time. We simply can not.”
