Woman Sues Universal Orlando Over Injuries on Epic Universe Coaster Linked to Recent Death

Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, is once again under legal scrutiny. A woman has filed a negligence lawsuit claiming she suffered permanent injuries while riding Stardust Racers, the same high-speed roller coaster where a man died earlier this month.

The lawsuit was filed in Orlando state court by Sandi Streets, who says she was injured during a special preview of Epic Universe in late April, just weeks before the park’s grand opening. According to the filing, Streets’ head shook violently and slammed against her seat’s headrest during the ride, which reaches speeds up to 62 mph. She alleges the coaster failed to properly restrain her head and that Universal didn’t adequately warn guests of what she describes as an “unsafe and unreasonably dangerous condition.”

Related: Manslaughter Investigation Opened in Epic Universe Coaster Death

Her attorneys say the injuries have left her with a disability, medical bills, lost income, and a worsening of a preexisting condition. Streets is asking for a jury trial to determine damages.

The lawsuit comes shortly after the death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who was found unresponsive on Stardust Racers earlier this month. The Orange County Medical Examiner ruled his cause of death as accidental, citing multiple blunt impact injuries. Zavala, who used a wheelchair due to a spinal disability, had been able to transfer onto the ride. His family, represented by the Ben Crump Law Firm, has not yet filed a lawsuit but has raised questions about how he died despite Universal’s insistence the ride was operating properly.

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Universal Orlando Resort President Karen Irwin told employees last weekend that internal reviews showed the ride systems were intact, equipment was functioning normally, and team members followed proper procedures. Florida regulators have said their preliminary findings align with Universal’s.

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