Mack Rides CEO Addresses Fatal Incident on Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers

The head of the company behind Universal Orlando’s Stardust Racers has spoken publicly for the first time about the September 17, 2025 incident in which 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala became unresponsive after riding and later died. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be “multiple blunt impact injuries,” and an incident report noted that Zavala had a “preexisting spinal injury.”

Universal Orlando’s safety and accessibility guide indicates that Stardust Racers is not for guests with “back, neck, or similar physical conditions,” among other restrictions.

Christian von Elverfeldt, the CEO of Mack Rides, which manufactured the dual-launch coaster, addressed the incident during an interview with Orlando’s WESH 2, offering condolences while noting that technical reviews found no issues with the ride.

“I’m really sorry for this poor family and guy, but we don’t know yet what really happened. We only know that the ride worked very well.” He added, “All the specialists have said the ride worked perfectly.”

When asked about the safety of Stardust Racers and other Mack Rides attractions, he said, “Safety is, of course, the most important thing because there are human beings on our rides, and maybe 12 months, 10 hours a day. So, this is most important for us.”

Universal Orlando’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Karen Irwin, also offered condolences in an earlier statement, saying, “Our hearts are with our Guest’s family and loved ones.”

Stardust Racers reopened on October 4, 2025, following a review. Irwin stated that “ride systems functioned properly throughout the boarding process, the duration of the ride, and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station, and our Team Members followed procedures throughout.” She noted that Universal worked closely with local authorities and that the State of Florida observed and reviewed testing as part of the investigation. According to Universal, both the ride manufacturer and an independent roller coaster engineering expert conducted on-site inspections that aligned with those findings.

Along with the reopening, Universal updated operational procedures and attraction signage for Stardust Racers and other rides to reinforce existing warnings and physical eligibility requirements.

Stardust Racers is a high-speed roller coaster that reaches speeds of 62 mph and climbs to a height of 133 feet. It officially opened on May 22, 2025, alongside Universal Orlando’s newest park, Epic Universe.