ORLANDO, Fla. – The relatives of a man who passed away after going on a roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe suspect that important warning signs were overlooked on the attraction.
Attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, will hold a news conference Tuesday morning to share updates in the case.
As stated in a press announcement, Crump’s legal team received information from more witnesses and other riders who claimed they sustained injuries on the Stardust Racers roller coaster.
[VIDEO BELOW: Family seeks transparency from Universal]
Crump said the family believes the accounts show the death was preventable.
Earlier this month, Rodriguez Zavala became unresponsive after experiencing the ride and later passed away. According to a medical examiner, the death was considered accidental and attributed to “multiple blunt impact injuries.”
Recently, Crump and his legal team have called for all videos and reports linked to Zavala’s death to be given to the family. They are undertaking their own independent probe into the incident.
[VIDEO BELOW: Investigation continues into death at Epic Universe]
An incident report acquired by News 6 indicated that Zavala had a “preexisting spinal injury,” though the report did not specify if it played a role in the accident. Nonetheless, Universal Orlando’s safety guidelines explicitly advise that the Stardust Racers is “not suitable for guests with back, neck, or similar physical conditions.”
However, Crump pointed out that Zavala was never told he couldn’t ride the coaster, which Crump said he was riding for the first time that day.
According to Crump’s team, their investigation revealed that Zavala was unconscious for a large portion of the ride and incurred multiple head injuries. Witnesses also noted seeing blood and part of a seat cover detached and hanging from the seat.
Universal Orlando Resort President and COO Karen Irwin said in an internal letter sent to team members that internal findings confirmed the ride “functioned as intended” and that the equipment was intact when the ride started, throughout the ride, and when it returned to the station.
[VIDEO BELOW: Epic guest died from ‘blunt impact injuries’]
The Florida Department of Agriculture also said in a statement, “The department’s current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information. The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
Tuesday’s news conference will take place at 8 a.m. at Orlando’s Crown Plaza hotel.
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