The family of the 32-year-old guest who died after riding Universal Orlando’s Stardust Racers roller coaster has reached an unspecified “resolution” with Universal, the family’s attorney announced Saturday.
A day earlier, a final report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) concluded that no criminal actions had occurred in Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s death on Sept. 17 at Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s third theme park which opened in May.
The incident kept the ride closed for more than two weeks. Universal said before its reopening that the ride itself and its employees had acted appropriately. Zavala family attorney Ben Crump released a statement at the time “demanding that Universal pause the reopening” and accusing the ride’s design of being “deadly.”
Crump’s statement to Theme Park Tribune and other media outlets on Saturday struck a different tone, saying: “The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala and Universal have reached an amicable resolution in this matter. The terms are confidential. The family is grateful for the community’s support and asks for privacy at this time.”
The OCSO report released earlier this week may have found no criminal wrongdoing, but painted a disturbing picture of Zavala’s fatal ride.
The report said that Zavala, who used a wheelchair and had a preexisting spinal injury, hit his head multiple times on the coaster’s seat, according to his girlfriend who was riding next to him. Witnesses reported that when the coaster returned to the station, Zavala was slumped over with a “significant amount of blood” on his seat and his “left leg was at a 90 degree angle in between the lap bar.”
A doctor who happened to be in line for Stardust Racers told deputies that Zavala appeared to be lifeless by the time his ride vehicle was back at the station.
The accompanying report from the Orange County Medical Examiner said Zavala had broken his femur and his nose on the ride, along with internal bleeding and extensive bruises. The official cause of death, as was reported soon after the incident, was “multiple blunt force injuries.”
When the ride reopened, Universal updated its policies across Stardust Racers and other attractions requiring that guests who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs be able to “walk independently” in order to experience certain rides. Previously, guests were able to ride if they could take a small step into a ride vehicle with the help of someone else.