Video above: Attorney Ben Crump calls for more government oversight after roller coaster death
Universal Orlando has announced plans to reopen the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe, two weeks after a tragic incident resulted in a man’s death.
A letter addressed to Universal’s theme park employees acquired by NBC affiliate WESH, from President and Chief Operating Officer Karen Irwin, confirmed that the ride systems were intact following a detailed technical and operational review with state and local authorities.
According to the letter, both the ride system’s manufacturer and an independent roller coaster expert conducted on-site testing.
“Our utmost concern is safety,” Irwin noted in the letter. “To aid guests in deciding if they are fit for a ride, we are refining operational procedures and enhancing attraction signage to emphasize existing warnings and physical requirements at both Stardust Racers and other rides.”
The roller coaster is set to reopen Saturday afternoon for the first time since the incident on September 17, which resulted in the death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who had a known spinal injury and used a wheelchair. He became unresponsive after the ride and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
A medical examiner ruled the death an accident, citing multiple blunt force injuries as the cause of death.
In the days following the incident, Zavala’s family hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who mentioned that numerous individuals have contacted his office reporting injuries from the roller coaster.
“We believe there were warning signs that there was something wrong with the design of this ride and that they tried to blame the victims,” Crump said at a news conference.
Family members said that despite Rodriguez Zavala’s condition, which he has from birth, he lived a full life and rode roller coasters many times before his death. His family and their attorneys insists he had no medical emergency at the time he rode Stardust Racers.
“His disability did not kill him,” Natalie Jackson, co-director of litigation for Ben Crump Law, PLLC, said at a news conference last month.
