2025 was a massive year for the theme park world as it saw the opening of the first major American theme park in decades, Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe. The park is truly an achievement with some incredible attractions and amazing environments. Unfortunately, it was also the site of a terrible theme park tragedy.
In September, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala rode Stardust Racers, seen as one of the top attractions at Epic Universe and without question its most intense experience. Zavala was found unresponsive following the ride and was later pronounced dead. There’s a way that these sorts of stories almost always go, but this one has taken a somewhat unusual path, as it appears the issue is now closed for both the resort and the family.
