US3 min(s) read
Published 09:51 01 Apr 2026 GMT
Newly released bodycam footage has revealed the heartbreaking moments after the tragic death of a 32-year-old wheelchair-bound man who died while riding the Stardust Racers at Universal Studios Florida’s Epic Universe.
On September 17, 2025, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was enjoying the roller coaster ride with his girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, when he suddenly lost consciousness.
"We went on the ride," Cruz-Robles told emergency responders in the footage.
"He was too low, he doesn’t have any support on his leg."
Even though he was strapped into his seat, Rodriguez was unable to remain secure during the ride’s first drop and was violently thrown around, repeatedly slamming his head against the restraints.
Zavala's distraught girlfriend, who fought desperately to keep him safe, tearfully recounted to police: "I tried - I saw him on the first drop. I saw him hit his head. I tried to hold him; I couldn’t hold him."
“Another one, he hit his head... He just went up and hit... It looked like [the restraint] was tight, but it wasn’t because he didn’t have support on his neck,” she added.
Witnesses at the scene described the aftermath as shocking. One person told police: "One of those ride carts – it’s just like, blood," per The New York Post.
Rodriguez had a spinal injury and used a wheelchair due to Spinal Cord Atrophy. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead from multiple blunt impact injuries.
The newly released footage includes testimony from Rodriguez's family and staff members.
Cruz-Robles explained that she tried to get help during the ride, but her calls went unheard as they were in the midst of the experience.
In addition, a doctor who was waiting to board the ride later shared that she had seen Rodriguez's bloodied, lifeless body slumped over, his arm dangling over the side of the cart.
Despite the tragic circumstances, the death was ruled accidental by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), which concluded that the ride operators had adhered to all safety procedures, and no negligence was found on their part.
The incident sparked an independent investigation by Rodriguez’s family, with renowned attorney Ben Crump involved.
In December, the lawyer revealed that the family "reached an amicable resolution" with Universal and "the terms are confidential," per a statement shared with the USA Today NETWORK Florida.
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