A MANSLAUGHTER probe is underway following the death of a theme park guest.
Kevin Zavala, 32, was found unconscious after going on the Stardust Racers rollercoaster at Epic Universe.
Zavala, 32, died in what coroners have described as an accident on September 17, and he suffered “multiple blunt impact injuries.”
He was pronounced dead after being rushed to an Orlando hospital.
Now, investigators are probing whether Zavala’s death can be defined as manslaughter under Florida law.
Orange County cops are investigating if negligence was a factor, as reported by the CBS affiliate WKMG-TV.
“Manslaughter is just the name of the catch-all statute covering deaths that are not natural,” a spokesperson for the police force said.
“In cases which appear at first glance to be accidental deaths – which this case does – detectives must determine whether there is any negligence, whether criminal or non-criminal.”
It has since emerged that Zavala had a pre-existing spinal injury, according to an accident report seen by WKMG.
But, it’s not known if the injury was a contributory factor.
Zavala’s girlfriend told cops her partner used a wheelchair and was taking medication.
Cops didn’t receive any 911 calls about the incident.
Theme park guests must stow their belongings in lockers before going on the ride.
Thrill-seekers experience speeds up to 62mph on the dual-launch coaster.
The ride reaches heights of up to 133 feet and it features an inversion known as the Celestial Spin.
It opened in May 2025 along with the Epic Universe theme park. Epic Universe features 11 rides and five different themed worlds.
Universal Orlando officials have said the ride was working as it should have been.
And, the ride’s equipment was intact following an investigation.
Tragedies at the Happiest Place on Earth
Although the motto of Disney playlands is to be the Happiest Place on Earth, tragedies have occurred at its theme parks over the decades.
1967 Disneyland, Peoplemover: The first death on the Peoplemover ride came in 1967 when the ride had only been open for about a month at the California theme park. A 16-year-old jumped between cars and fell onto the tracks, where he was struck by another train.
2019 Disney World, Humunga Kowabunga ride: One woman hurtled down a waterslide at 40mph and was left with a “wedgie so bad she was gushing blood” in 2019. Emma McGuinness sued Disney World Florida for over $50,000 following the shocking incident, a lawsuit alleges. The grisly accident occurred when Emma hit the water at the bottom of the Humunga Kowabunga slide, which stood 214 feet above a pool.
2020 Disney World, Contemporary Resort: Police said multiple people saw a woman falling from a Disney hotel room on an upper floor. Emergency workers found the victim unresponsive and soon declared her time of death. Officials said they believed that she died by suicide.
2021 Disney World: A schoolgirl died after suffering an allergic reaction to a hot dog bun while on a dream family holiday to Disney World, an inquest heard. Ava-Grace Stevens, 9, had spent the day with her family at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, when tragedy struck. Ava’s dad Geoffrey Stevens said they had taken care to meet their daughter’s dairy-free dietary needs but US food labels were not as clear to read as those in the UK.
But, the roller-coaster is still closed to park guests.
Grieving relatives have created a GoFundMe page where they paid tribute to Zavala.
“Kevin was truly one of a kind,” they said.
They described him as someone who had compassion and love.
“Despite the restrictions and obstacles he encountered throughout his life, Kevin met them all with grace, strength, and an unwavering spirit,” relatives said.
“He overcame so much, and he did so with quiet resilience and humility.”
Zavala was described as a loyal friend and those who knew him “loved him,” according to the GoFundMe.
