A Florida woman has filed a negligence lawsuit against Universal Orlando Resort, alleging she sustained permanent injuries on the same roller coaster where a man died last week, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
Sandi Streets filed the lawsuit in the Orlando state court just days after 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died from what the medical examiner ruled as multiple blunt impact injuries on the Stardust Racers attraction at Epic Universe theme park, which is part of the resort.
The lawsuit claims Streets was among guests invited to experience Universal's newest theme park several weeks before its May public opening. While riding the dual-launch coaster that reaches speeds up to 62 mph, Streets alleges her head "shook violently and slammed into her seat's headrest," causing permanent injuries.
She said the ride failed to adequately restrain her head and that Universal failed to properly warn guests about "the unsafe and unreasonably dangerous condition" of the roller coaster. The legal filing states she has experienced disability, medical expenses, loss of work capacity, and worsening of a preexisting condition since the incident.
Universal Orlando Resort did not immediately respond to NTD News seeking comment on the pending litigation.
Zavala became unresponsive while riding the Stardust Racers coaster and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Karen Irwin, Universal Orlando Resort's president, informed employees last weekend that internal investigations showed ride systems functioned normally, equipment remained intact, and Universal staff followed proper procedures during Zavala's ride. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services investigators reported their preliminary findings aligned with Universal's conclusions.
Attorneys representing Zavala's family disputed these findings during a news conference on Wednesday. While Zavala had a spinal disability from birth and used a wheelchair, his lawyers have argued his disability did not cause his death. The family has not yet filed a lawsuit but is still seeking to understand the circumstances surrounding his death.
Universal markets the Stardust Racers as "a breathtaking, dual-launch coaster reaching incredible speeds up to 62 mph,” according to the company’s website.
Epic Universe, which opened to the public in May, is Universal's fourth Florida theme park and the first major traditional theme park to debut in the state since Universal Islands of Adventure opened in 1999. The park features five themed sections and a 500-room hotel.
Since Epic Universe's opening, three other incidents have been reported to state authorities, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Previous incidents included a 63-year-old man experiencing dizziness and altered consciousness, a 47-year-old woman reporting visual disturbances and numbness after riding Stardust Racers, and a 32-year-old man experiencing chest pains following the Hiccup's Wing Gliders attraction.
The Stardust Racers attraction remains closed while an ongoing investigation is underway.