Overview

• At a Monday press conference, attorney Ben Crump and Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s parents condemned Universal’s decision to restart the coaster, urging the company to pause operations, preserve evidence, and allow their experts to inspect the ride.
• Universal reopened Stardust Racers on Oct. 4 after an internal technical and operational review that the state observed and that the ride manufacturer and an independent engineer validated, with the company saying the ride operated properly and staff followed procedures.
• The Orange County Medical Examiner ruled Zavala’s Sept. 17 death an accident caused by multiple blunt impact injuries, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says the case remains an open death investigation.
• Universal updated its Safety and Accessibility Guide and attraction signage, adding a requirement that guests using mobility devices must be able to walk independently for Stardust Racers and select other attractions, with similar updates extended to its other Orlando parks.
• Following the reopening, wait times reached up to two hours and some riders told local media they felt safe, while the family’s legal team cited additional injury reports and referenced a recent rider lawsuit that Universal settled quickly.