In brief
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala's death post-ride at Universal Studios has been deemed an accident after an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Security footage showed him unresponsive by the end of the ride, with difficulty in releasing him from his seat. Zavala had a spinal disability, though his family maintains it was not the cause of death, which medical examiners attributed to blunt-impact injuries.
ORLANDO, Fla. — An investigation into the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a 32-year-old man who died after riding a dual-launch roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort, has concluded with the ruling of accidental death by the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Security footage from the ride indicated that Zavala appeared 'engaged and well' at the beginning but was later found unresponsive and slouched in his seat by the ride's end. Emergency services reported that Zavala sustained severe facial trauma, which was further complicated by his wheelchair-bound state due to a spinal disability he was born with.
According to Universal paramedic Sebastian Torres, Zavala was stuck face down and unresponsive, making it challenging for ride operators to release him from the safety lap bar for ten long minutes. Zavala's girlfriend, who rode with him, confirmed that he had a spinal disability but his family insists this condition did not contribute to his unfortunate demise.
The medical examiner’s office in Orlando confirmed that Zavala died as a result of blunt-impact injuries, describing the event as a tragic accident.
The roller coaster he was on is known for reaching speeds up to 62 mph and officially opened to the public in May. As of now, there has been no further communication from the attorneys representing Zavala’s family following the sheriff's office report.
