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Previous coverage: Ben Crump calls for more government oversight after rollercoaster death
ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, the Epic Universe park visitor who died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster, issued a statement demanding that the ride be closed after new reports of restraint malfunctions.
The statement comes after a park visitor reported that a restraint on Universal’s Stardust Racers did not lock correctly, a mere hours after the ride reopened.
Witness accounts and intake records from Kevin’s case show that his lap bar failed to lock properly until a fourth, forceful attempt to lock the restraint was made by a Universal ride operator.
Universal has publicly stated that the ride underwent “comprehensive reviews” by its own inspectors, the manufacturer, state regulators, as well as a third-party engineer, before reopening to the public.
However, in a release by Attorney Ben Crump, a civil rights and personal injury attorney hired by Kevin’s family, he says that within hours of resuming operations, the same restraint malfunction occurred.
The parents of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala released the following statement:
“Universal said the ride was safe, yet news reports show one of the same safety issues that my son experienced just happened again. That tells us nothing has been fixed. They reopened the ride before giving us answers, and the danger is still there. Every rider deserves to come home safe. Until this ride’s restraint system is proven safe and the truth about Kevin’s death is made public, it should not carry another passenger. Kevin’s blood is on Universal’s hands until they do right by him and all riders by closing Stardust Racers until we get answers.”