Stardust Racers
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Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster catches fire as park phases out iconic ride
Fox Business· 2025-10-12 17:01
Core Points - A fire occurred on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort during its demolition process for a new attraction [1] - The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and there were no reported injuries [2] - Universal Orlando Resort has recently expanded to four parks with the opening of Universal Epic Universe in May [5] Incident Details - The fire took place on the lift hill of the ride, which had been closed since August 18 [1] - Attorney Ben Crump, representing the family of a deceased rider, criticized the reopening of the ride as a risk to public safety and called for a pause to allow for expert inspections [8] - An incident report indicated that the deceased rider had a spinal injury and was on medication [9] Company Statements - Universal Orlando President Karen Irwin stated that a comprehensive review confirmed the ride systems functioned properly during operations [11] - Universal has not publicly announced the replacement for the demolished coaster [1]
Attorneys say roller coaster had pattern of safety failures prior to rider's death: 'Not an isolated incident'
Fox Business· 2025-10-02 21:46
Core Viewpoint - The incident involving the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal's Epic Universe raises serious concerns about ride safety and the adequacy of Universal's safety measures, with multiple reports of injuries from other riders [1][5][10]. Group 1: Incident Details - Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died on September 17 after suffering multiple blunt force injuries on the Stardust Racers ride, which debuted on May 25 [1][5]. - His girlfriend, who was on the ride with him, reported that he was "thrown forward due to restraint issues," and other riders have come forward with similar experiences [4][5]. - Universal documented two injuries on the ride since its opening, including a 63-year-old man experiencing dizziness and a 47-year-old woman reporting visual disturbances, both attributed to preexisting conditions by Universal [7]. Group 2: Legal and Regulatory Implications - Attorneys representing Zavala's family claim that Universal missed "multiple" warning signs prior to his death and are calling for increased government oversight of large companies like Universal [2][10]. - The Tyre Sampson Act, enacted in 2023, tightened safety regulations for amusement rides in Florida, but large theme parks like Universal are exempt from certain requirements due to their self-inspection systems [11][12]. - The Stardust Racers ride has been closed since the incident, highlighting ongoing safety concerns [12].