ORLANDO, Fla. — New details were released Friday concerning the autopsy of a Kissimmee man who died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe on Sept. 17.
What You Need To Know
- Autopsy report detailed serious injury to a disc in Zavala’s neck and a broken right leg
- Cause of death was multiple blunt impact injuries
- A doctor on the scene rendered aid to Zavala and found him slumped over the restraint bar with a broken right leg
According to the autopsy report, which was released by the Orange County Medical Examiner Friday, the medical examiner ruled Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died from multiple blunt impact injuries.
The autopsy report summary says Zavala’s blunt impact injuries included:
- Cutaneous or skin lacerations, contusion and abrasion
- Fractures of the left orbit and nasal cartilage
- C5-C6 intervertebral disk laceration in his neck
- A fracture of the right femur
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigative report says Dr. Anna Marshall, who was a bystander when the accident happened, rendered aid to Zavala on the roller coaster platform. According to the report, Marshall said she found Zavala slumped over the safety bar with a badly broken right leg.
Dr. David Sugar, who has been an orthopedic doctor in Sarasota for 28 years, reviewed the autopsy report and shared his insights.
“For the femur to have broken like that, it makes me think, for example, that something was pinned against the femur holding it, and then the rest of his body was propelled forward or backward, but probably forward,” Sugar said.
Sugar said the covering around one of the disks in Kevin’s neck was badly damaged and caused bleeding around his spinal cord.
“That covering tore. It lacerated, and the only way that’s going happen is a high energy type of mechanism, like a severe whiplash type of movement,” he said.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation concluded a green safety light indicated that Zavala was properly secured before the ride started.
Roller coaster installer Daniel Leavelle believes that shows the ride was working properly.
“These restraints have been found on multiple other roller coasters around multiple other countries, and what not,” Leavelle said. “So, they’re tried, tested and proven that they work.”
Universal Orlando did not return a request for comment for this story.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which regulates theme parks in Florida, sent a statement to Spectrum News 13 Friday.
“Universal voluntarily invited the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to monitor the investigation of the Epic Universe Stardust Racers death,” the statement said. “They have been transparent and cooperative throughout this process. We have nothing to add to the work of law enforcement. This was a tragic event, and the appropriate steps are taking place according to the law.”
