‘G-forces are intense on that ride’: Ride inspector texts following Epic Universe coaster death
By Greg Fox
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ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Text messages obtained by WESH 2 from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provide new insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of the investigation into last fall’s death of a Universal Orlando theme park guest.
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was a theme park lover and roller coaster enthusiast who was thrilled to finally get the chance to ride the new Stardust Racers at Epic Universe. But when the ride rolled to a stop Sept. 17, Zavala, who had a spinal cord condition and several prior back and leg surgeries, was unresponsive.
Zavala’s girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, told deputies that on the first drop, Zavala partially came up out of his seat and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them. As the ride continued, Cruz-Robles said he “continually hit his head on the bar in front of them as the ride descended,” an Orange County Sheriff’s office report says.
An autopsy found Zavala died of multiple blunt impact injuries.
Soon after the emergency was signaled at Epic Universe, the senior management analyst at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the state agency that oversees ride safety, was texting with one of the lead ride inspectors for the agency to put him on the case.
Michelle Faulk, who is also bureau chief for fair rides and inspections, texted central Florida-based ride inspector Mark Gonzalez, “FYI death called in on stardust racer. Appears to be a cardiac episode. Could be one hell of a day tomorrow!”
Gonzalez, a ride safety veteran, also investigated the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from the Free Fall ride on International Drive March 24, 2022.
Gonzalez texted back to Faulk, “I volunteer to go out there if needed.”
After Faulk agreed, she added, “I’m not sure if the capital will want someone out there. Not something we normally do, but this is the first for this commissioner, so no idea what his intentions will be.”
Faulk was referencing Agriculture Commissioner and former Senate President Wilton Simpson.
In a later text after gathering more information, Faulk said to Gonzalez, “Larger gentleman was said to have gone limp early on in the ride cycle. G-forces are intense on that ride.”
Stardust Racers was shut down for the investigation, which, according to the text messages, was headed by Universal Orlando’s vice president of technical services, Brandon Bauman.
On Sept. 19, two days after Zavala’s death, Gonzalez texted Faulk, “Their data review was all within parameters. They are going to keep it down pending (manufacturer) input).”
The State team also took issue with an inaccurate statement by Zavala family attorney Ben Crump during his Sept. 24 news conference. He said Zavala was sitting in the front of the coaster.
In a text message to Gonzalez, Faulk asked, “Listening to the press conference, was he (Zavala) in the front seat?” Gonzalez replied, “Front seat of the 5th carrier.”
Regardless of the State messaging following the tragedy, the sheriff’s office closed the case in December, ruling the death accidental.
A ride safety expert who spoke with WESH 2 in December, Bill Kitchen, said there’s no reason for people who meet the physical conditions for boarding to worry about their safety on Stardust Racers.
Kitchen added, “It’s a good product, built by good people. And I don’t see any reason at all to believe there was negligence on the part of Universal.”
A message to the office of Crump was not returned.
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