By Elena Vasquez, Lead Editor
Valiant News Network | September 29, 2025
ORLANDO, FL – As Universal’s Epic Universe theme park celebrates its triumphant opening earlier this year, shadows loom over one of its marquee attractions: the high-thrill dueling coaster Stardust Racers. Just weeks after a tragic fatality on September 17, 2025, that claimed the life of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, Universal Orlando has quietly settled a lawsuit with a Florida woman who alleged severe injuries from the same ride during a preview visit on April 30, 2025. The incidents have thrust the $2 billion park’s safety protocols into the spotlight, with a theme park industry expert raising alarms about potential track defects that could explain the violent forces at play—defects he says demand immediate intervention from the ride’s German manufacturer, Mack Rides.
The April settlement involves Sandi Streets, a 49-year-old resident of Sanford, Florida, who filed suit in Orange County Circuit Court seeking over $50,000 in damages. Streets claimed that during her ride on Stardust Racers—a multi-launch dueling coaster where two trains race side-by-side through starry-themed inversions and high-speed twists—her head “shook violently and slammed into her seat’s headrest throughout the duration,” resulting in whiplash and “severe and permanent bodily injuries.” Universal, represented by its legal team, reached an undisclosed settlement on September 28, 2025, avoiding a trial that could have aired embarrassing details about the ride’s restraints and maintenance. Terms of the agreement remain confidential, but Streets’ attorneys confirmed it includes provisions for her medical care, emphasizing that the resolution “holds Universal accountable for guest safety.”
Tragedy struck just over five months later on September 17, when Zavala, a 32-year-old father of two from Kissimmee, became unresponsive immediately after disembarking from the front seat of Stardust Racers. Rushed to Orlando Health Celebration Hospital, he succumbed hours later to “multiple blunt impact injuries,” according to the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office. Zavala’s family, heartbroken and seeking answers, has publicly demanded the ride remain shuttered indefinitely, calling his death “preventable” and criticizing Universal for what they describe as a “rushed” investigation. “Kevin loved theme parks; this was supposed to be a dream day,” his sister, Maria Zavala, told local reporters through tears. “Instead, it ended in unimaginable loss.”
Universal has maintained that Stardust Racers operated “normally” in both incidents, with state inspectors from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services affirming no mechanical failures were detected, at this time. The park, which opened to massive fanfare in Early 2025 as Epic Universe’s centerpiece, features the Mack Rides-manufactured coaster reaching speeds of 70 mph over a 3,500-foot track laced with inversions and racing duels. Yet, as the ride sits closed for “routine inspections” since Zavala’s death—postponing its soft reopening planned for late September—questions persist about underlying issues that may transcend operator error.
Enter Brian Cox, a veteran theme park industry expert with over 25 years in ride engineering and safety consulting for major operators (identity protected at his request to safeguard professional relationships, but credentials verified through industry contacts and prior publications). Cox, who rode Stardust Racers in the summer of 2025, shared exclusive insights with VNN, describing forces that left him “deeply concerned” for rider safety.
“The violent lateral and vertical Gs on Stardust Racers are unlike anything I’ve felt on a modern dueling coaster,” Cox explained. “My head whipped uncontrollably, slamming against the restraint with enough force to cause immediate neck strain—mirroring the complaints from both the Streets settlement and Zavala’s fatal injuries.” He attributes this to “deep gauging” on the tracks, visible wear grooves etched into the steel rails by the ride’s bogies—the critical wheel assemblies that connect each coaster car to the track.
For clarity: Roller coaster bogies are the robust undercarriage mechanisms housing the train’s wheels (typically four per bogie: two inner flanges for guidance, two outer for stability, and uppers/lowers for suspension). Over time, the bogies’ wheels grind against the rails, creating gauging—deep channels that can exacerbate vibrations, increase head-banging risks, and compromise ride smoothness if not addressed through regular resurfacing or replacement. “These weren’t superficial marks,” Cox stressed. “The gauging was pronounced, suggesting years of high-volume operation rather than the pristine condition expected from a ride under recent construction. Epic Universe broke ground in 2021, but Stardust Racers’ track looked battle-worn, like a veteran from the ’90s—not a 2025 debut.”
Cox’s observations align with industry standards: Mack Rides, the renowned German firm behind the coaster (known for durable launches on rides like VelociCoaster, although VelociCoaster was actually manufactured by Intamin), typically guarantees bogie-track longevity for 10-15 years with proper maintenance. Yet, VNN’s repeated outreach to Mack Rides and Universal Orlando for comment has yielded no response as of publication. A Universal spokesperson reiterated, “Safety is our top priority; the ride is closed pending a thorough third-party review,” but did not provide any specifics as to what caused the accident.
The dual incidents have prompted a multi-agency probe: Orange County Sheriff’s Office leads the death investigation as an “accident,” while Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants oversees ride certification. Streets’ settlement, while resolving her claims, doesn’t preclude further scrutiny—her attorneys hinted at cooperating with Zavala’s family on potential class-action avenues if defects are confirmed.
Universal Epic Universe, drawing 50,000 daily visitors since May, has otherwise shone as a crown jewel, blending Celestial Park with immersive worlds like Super Nintendo and How to Train Your Dragon. But Stardust Racers’ closure—now extended indefinitely—casts a pall, with attendance dips of 5% reported in September. Families like the Zavalas, who launched a GoFundMe raising $75,000 for Zavala’s children, plead for transparency: “No more lives lost to thrills gone wrong.”
As VNN continues to press Mack Rides and Universal Orlando for answers, Cox urges riders and regulators alike: “Inspect the bogies, replace the trains if necessary, resurface the tracks—before the next tragedy.” In an industry where innovation meets risk, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
At Valiant News Network, we’re committed to Valiant, Verified, and Vanguard reporting—delivering the facts with respect for our institutions and an eye toward liberty’s defense. Theme park safety isn’t entertainment; it’s a promise to every guest.
Signed,
Elena Vasquez
Lead Editor, Valiant News Network
