A woman died after riding Universal Orlando’s Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster in November, according to Florida’s quarterly theme park incident report released Thursday.
The report, which accounts for the final three months of 2025, says an unidentified 70-year-old woman was unresponsive and died after riding the coaster on Nov. 25.
It says she passed away at the hospital, but includes no further details.
The report includes all medical incidents and injuries that are recorded at Universal Orlando, Disney World, Legoland, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
It includes eight other non-fatal medical incidents at Universal and six at Disney World between October and December 2025. No other incidents were recorded on Revenge of the Mummy in the report.
The report notes it is “a compilation of data collected from the exempt facilities and reflects only the information reported at the time of the incident.”
Due to privacy concerns, the report says, “the Department does not receive updates to initial assessments of a patron’s condition.”
Revenge of the Mummy is an indoor coaster themed after The Mummy film that reaches 40 mph and includes a drop hill of 39 feet. It has appeared on past quarterly reports 21 times for nonfatal injuries and the death of a man who fell from the loading area onto the ride’s tracks in 2004 — the year it opened.
Other Universal rides that reported nonfatal incidents include Stardust Racers, Doctor Dooms Fearfall, Jurassic World: VelociCoaster, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, and Yoshi’s Adventure.
Stardust Racers appears twice in the report: once for a 78-year-old man who experienced chest pain and a 61-year-old man who experienced cardiac arrest.
The Epic Universe dual-launch coaster most notably made recent headlines over the Sept. 17 death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a 32-year-old man found unresponsive after riding the coaster and later pronounced dead at the hospital. A final investigative report deemed the case accidental and the official cause of death as blunt impact injuries. Zavala used a wheelchair and did not have use of his legs. He also had undergone previous spine and hip surgeries.
Universal has not released a statement about the death.
The Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe Credit: Seth Kubersky
Last December, I predicted that 2025 might prove to be a pivotal year for Central Florida’s arts and attractions industries, which then appeared poised at the precipice of either historic expansion or an epic implosion. In the end, both possibilities turned out to be somewhat true, as Orlando welcomed many exciting new experiences while bidding far too many bitter farewells. Here are the highlights and lowlights across my past year covering our community’s live active cultures.
Without a doubt, the long-awaited debut of Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe was the theme park industry’s biggest event of the year, if not the century. I was lucky enough to be invited to pre-opening previews and lavish grand opening celebration (try to spot me in final episode of Peacock’s Epic Ride documentary) but you can judge my genuine love for the new park by the absurd amount of money I’ve spent on single-day admission over the past six months, in the ongoing absence of annual passes.
Tragically, Kevin Zavala’s death aboard Stardust Racers (and other injury claims that have followed his family’s settlement with the park) has cast a shadow over that world-class coaster. And although Universal wisely restricted initial attendance to avoid a repeat of Universal Studios Florida’s infamous inaugural summer, with over 20,000 guests per day visiting over the holidays, Epic’s deficit of people-eating E-tickets is showing up in triple-digit wait times for the top rides. Happily, a massive new indoor Harry Potter broomstick ride, along with other fast-tracked additions, should alleviate Epic’s congestion over the coming years. Universal’s older parks are also receiving some much-need TLC as construction commences on replacements for USF’s Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and IOA’s Lost Continent; also look for Volcano Bay to close next fall for a multi-month makeover.
In Anaheim, Mickey went all out celebrating Disneyland’s 70th birthday with new entertainment and returning favorites, including the controversial first-ever Walt animatronic and celebrated Paint the Night parade, putting to shame the Magic Kingdom’s meager golden anniversary in 2021. But as Walt Disney World prepares to turn 55, we’re left looking back over a year marked by more endings than arrivals. EPCOT’s Test Track emerged from its second makeover with more impressive visuals, but even less educational value. Disney Starlight, Magic Kingdom’s first new nighttime parade in decades, turned out to not be worth the wait, with dazzling float designs undermined by uninspiring music and understaffing. And my most memorable WDW visits of 2025 were bittersweet final pilgrimages to MuppetVision 4-D and the Rivers of America (with Disney Legend Tom Nabbe, Disneyland’s original Tom Sawyer, who is remarkably OK with his island’s extinction), both of which were evicted for upcoming Pixar attractions.
Outside of Orlando’s attractions, the cruise industry was the shining star of the Sunshine State’s year in tourism. Most of the major cruise lines launched their latest mega-ships out of Florida’s ports, and I was fortunate to sail aboard during some celebrity-studded christening celebrations. MSC stepped up to the big leagues with their ginormous World America, and announced its sister ship World Atlantic will sail out of Port Canaveral starting in 2027; I still say stick to their exclusive Yacht Club, even on these newer vessels. My first experience aboard Princess Cruises didn’t quite live up to their stellar reputation for service, but I was still spellbound by Star Princess’ immersive at-sea outpost of L.A.’s famous Magic Castle. Best of all, Norwegian Cruise Line knocked me out with their authorized Prince musical production and cirque spectacular, which I was able to follow from NCL’s Tampa-area rehearsal studio to the Aqua’s main stage.
Within the world of theater, by all rights the highlight of my year should have been my trip to New York City to see Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot — my all-time favorite play, which I’d previously seen starring Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin, and Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen — with Bill & Ted alumni Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves. However, director Jamie Lloyd’s visually striking production proved both frustratingly expectation-subverting and fan-servicing to a fault. The expensive experience emphasized once again that Orlando offers theatrical experiences that equal or outdo anything around Times Square, whether we’re talking about some of the terrific national tours that came through the Dr. Phillips Center this year (including Water for Elephants and Hadestown) or Off-Broadway-worthy revivals from local companies like Theater West End.
Sadly, the same issue that has plagued Orlando’s arts community throughout recent years only became more acute in 2025: the lack of affordable venues for nomadic troupes to rehearse and perform in. Despite the ongoing space squeeze there were several bright spots, as some cultural keystones happily received new homes or rejuvenated existing institutions. Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts sadly said goodbye to founder Chris Cortez due to health issues, but got to move into the coveted former Winter Park Library building. Winter Park Playhouse is performing their classic musicals at Orlando Shakes while major upgrades are underway at their Orange Avenue storefront, which they were finally able to purchase with Tourism Development Tax funding after 23 years. Imagine Performing Arts Center continued to thrive in the Oviedo Mall, providing a platform for challenging works like Ensemble Co.’s chilling revival of Bryony Lavery’s Frozen, which was arguably superior to the one I co-produced years ago. And Theater on the Edge happily reopened with emotionally affecting mountings of Birds of North America and The Sunset Limited to celebrate co-founder Samantha DiGeorge’s recovery from cancer.
Unfortunately, the venue victories of 2025 feel outweighed by the list of losses, starting last winter with Orlando Fringe’s exit from their ArtSpace stages above Church Street, following floods and other downtown plagues. The organization carried forward with a successful May festival, and their Orlando Out Fest gracefully transitioned into The Center’s Q Fest, but the move curtailed much of Fringe’s year-round programming. Currently, the ex-ArtSpace is temporarily occupied by Renaissance Theatre Co., but reopening plans for The Ren’s permanent building near Loch Haven — which was shuttered by the city during the Halloween season — remain TBA at the moment. We lost photographer and arts advocate Patrick Kahn, along with his Snap! Gallery; Jeanine Taylor is retiring from her Sanford folk art gallery; and the long list of restaurants and bars that announced their closures this year includes long-running live music venues like Tanqueray’s and Muldoon’s Saloon. Personally, the final bow that hit me hardest was Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows, which not only served up delicious hens with their whodunits, but served as an important safety net and launching pad for countless local actors.
Finally, if all these dizzying highs and lows in arts and attractions make you want to spark one up, don’t look to the cannabis industry for a calm and quiet year in review. 2025 began with the aftermath of recreational marijuana’s defeat at the ballot box, before new restrictions stuck into this fall’s federal shutdown legislation recriminalized the rapidly growing market for hemp-derived THC. Then, President Trump upended everything again with his recent executive order rescheduling reefer like other prescription drugs. Amidst all these wild swings, Orlando’s MMJ community continued to expand, as I watched Goldflower open their doors, attended one of Leafwell’s free medical card events, and toured Insa’s cutting-edge growing facility with CEO Peter Gallagher; hat tip to their new 30 mg Energy tablets, which helped power me through some 30,000-step theme park days.
Whether it’s weed or the wider world, things appear unlikely to become any more stable in the upcoming year. So as 2025 comes to a close, I say smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em.
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Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was “completely slouched over with blood surrounding him,” held in his seat by just a lap bar when his girlfriend’s cries for help were finally heard.
This is the scene an off-duty doctor recalled when she went to help a man found unresponsive after riding an Epic Universe rollercoaster in September.
Dr. Anna Marshall was one of several witness accounts and new details unveiled in a final investigative report on Zavala’s death released Thursday, nearly three months after the incident. It concludes the case, deeming it accidental and the cause of death as blunt impact injuries.
The 32-year-old man was found unresponsive around 9 p.m. on Sept. 17 after riding Stardust Racers, a dual-launch coaster located in Epic Universe’s Celestial Park area. He rode the coaster with his girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, whose screams for help punctuated what is now known to have been a gruesome, ultimately fatal ride for Zavala.
According to the report, Zavala and Cruz-Robles boarded the ride with the help of park employees via a “lateral transfer,” as Zavala used a wheelchair and did not have use of his legs.
Cruz-Robles said it took a ride attendant multiple attempts to secure Zavala’s lap restraint. The lap bar at first did not meet the minimum amount of restraint required, but the attendant asked Zavala if they could push it down to secure it further.
The report states Zavala agreed and showed no signs of discomfort as the bar was secured after approximately two or three tries. A surveillance recording showed Zavala appeared “engaged and well” as the ride took off.
Cruz-Robles said her boyfriend appeared to have been secured in the seat. But as the ride began its first descent, Zavala came out of his seat and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them repeatedly as the ride continued.
She later said Zavala appeared to be seated correctly but that she felt his lap restraint was too low.
Several accounts say Zavala was found surrounded by blood and Cruz-Robles’ face was splattered with blood.
Cruz-Robles said she tried to hold her partner down but was unsuccessful. Her cries for help went unheard during the ride.
Her cries became audible at the end of the ride, and employees implemented an emergency stop.
Marshall, who was vacationing at the park, offered medical assistance to park employees, who she said “appeared to have been frozen.”
Zavala’s arm was hanging over the side of the ride, and his femur was “completely broken in half and resting on the back of the chair,” Marshall told deputies.
A paramedic said he was “stuck on the ride vehicle face down, falling out of the seat, with legs inverted,” per the report. Another paramedic said he “was bleeding from the face and his body was distorted.”
Marshall learned from Cruz-Robles at the time that Zavala had a previous spine surgery that resulted in metal rods being placed in his back. Zavala’s parents later clarified he underwent a hip dislocation which required surgery around 2010. He also had surgery to address a fractured femur around 2020.
Marshall found no pulse and believed Zavala was likely deceased.
It took park and emergency staff about 10 minutes to release the lap restraint that was holding him in place as he lay unconscious, according to the report.
The report noted “a significant amount of blood loss.” An investigator reported seeing a “significant amount of blood on the chair and the bar in front of the chair.”
She later told deputies she believed his broken femurs played a “significant role” in his being able to reach and crash into the metal bar in front of him. However, she said, she didn’t feel that his lack of the use of his legs was the sole reason the incident occurred.
Zavala was pronounced dead at Orlando Regional Medical Center at 10:05 p.m. that night.
At the hospital, Cruz-Robles told deputies she and Zavala had ridden roller coasters throughout the day, and in the past.
Zavala’s father, Carlos Rodriguez-Ortiz, told deputies days after his death that his “mother always told him not to ride the roller coasters, but he would never listen.”
As of Thursday, the case is closed.
“Because it was determined that no criminal acts occurred in this case, this concludes the Orange County Sheriff’s Office role in this case,” reads an email sent by Orange County Sheriff’s Office Thursday.
Stardust Racers, which opened to the public along with the debut of new park Epic Universe in May, is a dual-launch coaster that reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet across the 5,000 total feet of track. The height requirement is 48 inches, and it was classified as a “thrill ride” at the time.
The ride closed shortly after the incident on Sept. 17. It opened again Oct. 4, the same day the park released an updated Guide for Safety and Accessibility, which states that Stardust Racers riders who use mobility devices must be able to walk independently.
Warning signs placed at the ride’s entrance and throughout the line read:
“WARNING! These high-speed roller coasters include sudden and dramatic acceleration, climbing, tilting, an inversion, and dropping.”
And:
“Persons with the following conditions should not ride: Medical Sensitivity to Strobe Effects, Medical Sensitivity to Fog Effects, Recent Surgery or Other Conditions that may be aggravated by this ride, Expected Mothers, Motion Sickness or Dizziness.”
Stardust Racers is open to guests as of Friday morning.
It’s been just under three weeks since a Universal Orlando guest died after riding a new Epic Universe rollercoaster. Now, the ride’s open to guests once again.
Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers reopened Saturday after having been closed since Sept. 17, when 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who used a wheelchair, died at a hospital after he was found unresponsive after riding the coaster.
Off-duty Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a “man down call” within Epic Universe on the day. Zavala was then transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.
An investigation into the incident was launched by Universal and local officials, and Universal has since confirmed the ride “functioned properly” while Zavala boarded, rode and completed the ride.
Now, according a letter obtained by Orlando Weekly that was sent to Universal employees by president and COO Karen Irwin, the theme park has updated its operational procedures and attraction signage to “reinforce existing ride warnings and physical eligibility requirements at Stardust Racers and other rides.”
The letter continues to state the ride would be reopened starting Oct. 4.
On the same day, the park released an updated Guide for Safety and Accessibility, which now states that Stardust Racers riders who use mobility devices must be able to walk independently. The attraction has a device to assist those riders with their transfer to the ride vehicles.
Previously, WESH2 reports, the Guide for Safety and Accessibility stated that Stardust Racers riders “must be able to take a small step into the ride vehicle compartment, either independently or with assistance from your companion.”
Stardust Racers is a dual-launch coaster that reaches speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet across the 5,000 total feet of track inside Epic Universe’s Celestial Park. The height requirement is 48 inches.
BREAKING NEWS JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM. WESH TWO HAS OBTAINED A LETTER SENT TO UNIVERSAL ORLANDO EMPLOYEES FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A GUEST WHO RODE THE STAR RACER’S ROLLER COASTER. NOW, THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE RIDE TONIGHT, WHICH REMAINS CLOSED. THE LETTER SENT TO EMPLOYEES BY THE PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT, SAYS THE RIDE SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED AS INTENDED AND THE EQUIPMENT WAS INTACT AT THE RIDE’S START AND DURING THE RIDE. IT WENT ON TO SAY THAT TEAM MEMBERS FOLLOWED PROCEDURES AND THE ATTRACTION WILL REMAIN CLOSED AS THE PARK DOES A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS. WITH THE RIDE MANUFACTURER. 32 YEAR OLD KEVIN RODRIGUEZ ZABALA WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE ON THE RIDE ON WEDNESDAY AND LATER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CONFIRMS HIS RULED HIS DEATH RATHER AN ACCIDENT, CITING MULTIPLE BLUNT IMPACT INJURIES. WESH TWO WAS THE ONLY NEWS CREW AT THE SCENE THE NIGHT OF THE DEATH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY AND BRING YOU THE LATEST UPDATE
Universal Orlando Resort president says Stardust Racers ride was functioning properly
WESH 2 has obtained a copy of a letter sent to Universal Orlando Team Members after the death of a guest who rode the Stardust Racers roller coaster.In the letter, President & COO of Universal Orlando Resort Karen Irwin said, “Our hearts are with our Guest’s family and loved ones, and with all of you who have been impacted by the tragic loss.” Irwin continues stating that internal findings to date confirm that the ride systems functioned as intended, equipment was intact at the ride’s start, throughout the duration of the ride and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station. The letter tells Universal Orlando Team Members to be mindful that this is an ongoing investigation.Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive on the Stardust Racers roller coaster on Wednesday and later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to Universal Orlando officials. The medical examiner confirmed that the death was accidental, citing multiple blunt impact injuries. Click here to support his family’s GoFundMe.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
WESH 2 has obtained a copy of a letter sent to Universal Orlando Team Members after the death of a guest who rode the Stardust Racers roller coaster.
In the letter, President & COO of Universal Orlando Resort Karen Irwin said, “Our hearts are with our Guest’s family and loved ones, and with all of you who have been impacted by the tragic loss.”
Irwin continues stating that internal findings to date confirm that the ride systems functioned as intended, equipment was intact at the ride’s start, throughout the duration of the ride and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station.
The letter tells Universal Orlando Team Members to be mindful that this is an ongoing investigation.
Universal Orlando Resorts
Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive on the Stardust Racers roller coaster on Wednesday and later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to Universal Orlando officials.
According to the incident report, firefighters and Universal Orlando Health Services said 32-year-old Kevin Zavala had a laceration and was unresponsive. They performed CPR on him on the platform right next to the ride.
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Zavala was pronounced dead right at the hospital after 10 p.m.
The report says Zavala had a spinal injury that required him to be in a wheelchair.
The cause of death was multiple blunt impact injuries, according to the medical examiner. The cause of those injuries is still being investigated.
Stardust Racers is closed in the meantime.
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A patron at one of the nation’s newest amusement parks has died after riding a roller coaster there. According to the Associated Press, Florida authorities confirmed they found a man in his 30s unresponsive after riding the coaster at Epic Universe on Wednesday, September 18.
Limited Details Released About Roller Coaster Death
In a statement to AP, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando said medics took the man to the hospital. However, he was pronounced dead there. The man’s identity is not yet public information, and it’s unclear if he was visiting the amusement park alone or with a group.
Officials from Epic Universe tell AP that the roller coaster involved is the Stardust Racers. The park’s website describes the ride as “a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph).”
No further details were immediately available early Thursday.
A Universal Orlando Resorts spokesperson told the AP: “The company is devastated by the incident and extends its sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully cooperating with Orange County and the ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.”
Universal opened the amusement park in May. It has five themed sections and a 500-room hotel. It’s the first major, traditional theme park to open in Florida since 1999, when Universal Islands of Adventure debuted. However, it’s worth noting that Universal opened a themed Orlando water park, Volcano Bay, in 2017. The addition of Epic Universe brought the total number of parks at the Florida resort to four, including Universal Studios.
Other Incidents At The Newly Opened Amusement Park
Unlike smaller venues and fairs, Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections. Instead, the largest theme parks, like Walt Disney World and Universal, conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols. However, they must report any injury or death to the state.
Since Epic Universe opened in May, there have been three reports. In May, a 63-year-old man with a preexisting condition experienced dizziness and “an altered state of consciousness.” In another instance, a 47-year-old woman with a preexisting condition had a “visual disturbance” and numbness after the ride. They both rode the Stardust Racers coaster on separate days. Additionally, a 32-year-old man reportedly experienced chest pains after going on the Hiccup’s Wing Gliders ride.
Epic isn’t the only park to be involved in incidents this year. In the second quarter, there were a dozen reports from Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld Orlando. One example was a 78-year-old woman who became unresponsive on a child-friendly carousel at SeaWorld. Meanwhile, in another incident, an 87-year-old woman with a preexisting condition lost consciousness after going on the Dinosaur ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
