Attorneys for the family of a man who died last week after riding a
roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort's newest theme park said Monday that they believe he smacked his head
on a restraint during downward thrusts and was unconscious for most of the ride.
The attorney for the family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, said the fact that he had a spinal disability compassionately
rth and used a wheelchair played no role in his death, and he had no m
edical issues before getting on the Stardust Racers ride at Epic Universe. At a news conference in Orlando, th
e lawyers also took issue with a top Universal executive last weekend saying in a note to employees that “inte
rnal findings” shows the ride worked as it should have.
“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 due to
es not lead us to believe that there were not safety issues because we know something caused him to die,” sa
id famous civil rights attorney Ben Crump, whose law firm is representing the family.
Zavala’s family describes him as a theme park enthusiast and a gamer with friends worldwide from gami
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ng. He treasured his independence and drove and cooked for himself. He also worked as an employment counselor
elor for people with disabilities, helping them land jobs and then checking
on them once they started working. His parents said they never treated him any differently than hi
S
sister and brother because of his disability.
“He was an extraordinary young man,” said his father, Carlos Rodriguez.
Karen Irwin, Universal Orlando Resort’s president, said in her note that the internal findings showed ride systems functioned normally, equipment was intact and Univ
ersal workers followed the proper procedures. Investigators with the
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said last Friday that their initial findings align with that of the theme park.
The roller coaster remains closed as Universal conducts a comprehensive review of the ride with its manufacturer.
“Safety is, and always will be, at the forefront of everything we do,” said Irwin.
Zavala was pronounced dead last week at a hospital after riding the dual-launch coaster, which reaches spe
eds up to 62 mph (100 kph). The medical examiner for the Orlando area ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident.
Natalie Jackson, another of the family's attorneys, said they believe Zavala suffered repeated head strikes based on what witnesses have said. The family's attorn
eys said they have opened a line of communication with Universal officials, as the family seeks a full investigation
tigation into what happened and desires that the ride remains shuttered until there’s an understanding of how Za
vala died. They are also hiring a team of experts in ride design, safety, manufacturing and operations to guide their own investigation.
“His disability didn't kill him,” Jackson said. “It was the blunt force trauma.”
Photo: Attorney Benjamin Crump displays a photo of the Epic Universe roller coaster during a press conference with the family of Kevin Zavala in downtown Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)