The head of the company behind Universal Orlando’s Stardust Racers has spoken publicly for the first time about the September 17, 2025 incident in which 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala became unresponsive after riding and later died. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” and an incident report noted that Zavala had a “preexisting spinal injury.”
Universal Orlando’s safety and accessibility guide indicates that Stardust Racers is not for guests with “back, neck, or similar physical conditions,” among other restrictions.
Christian von Elverfeldt, the CEO of Mack Rides, which manufactured the dual-launch coaster, addressed the incident during an interview with Orlando’s WESH 2, offering condolences while noting that technical reviews found no issues with the ride…