Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[angryduck71]

I am here now. I have ridden it before and got slightly motion sick. I had debated doing it tonight to see if it would be better. Sadly, the choice has been made for me. I am so sad for that family. Sounds like mom was riding with her adult son. I wish we could all give her hugs and support.

 

[vinotinto]

Official cause of death based on autopsy is "multiple blunt impact injuries."

This is such an incredibly sad piece of news. That poor mother sitting next to her adult son.
https://thespacecoastrocket.com/uni...-after-riding-epic-universes-stardust-racers/

I would not expect this ride to reopen in the near future. They will need to reengineer the restraints. That will take a while. This will bring down the number of rides at Epic to 10 and will further impact wait times in the open rides.

 

[GhostHost24]

Oh wow. Did not expect that at all.

I guess on the reopening it depends what it was... Blunt force from something on the ride? Something from someones pocket? An animal?

 

[marmentrout85]

They will need to reengineer the restraints.

How so?

 

[GhostHost24]

How so?

from reading more about it for the last hour roughly, sounds like the person passed out and ragdolled, and head was just banging against the seat (that's not confirmed, but that seems the most likely since they're saying trauma).

So guessing they may need to go to over the shoulder harness or add a heck of a lot of padding around the head area.

 

[HopperFan]

Oh wow. Did not expect that at all.

Not surprised based on the eye witness reports that came out. Glad they aren’t trying squash the report.

Ride will need some adjustments. We are coaster folks, DS#2 rode and told me it was very powerful and I’d likely not enjoy.

 

[vinotinto]

from reading more about it for the last hour roughly, sounds like the person passed out and ragdolled, and head was just banging against the seat (that's not confirmed, but that seems the most likely since they're saying trauma).

So guessing they may need to go to over the shoulder harness or add a heck of a lot of padding around the head area.

This is what I’ve been reading too. So sad.

 

[PrincessV]

I’m no expert in any way - but as I mentioned the other day, as a very petite person, my upper body gets thrown around within the seat a lot in these high intensity coasters with only lap restraints. I’ve always preferred over the shoulder harnesses for anything with inversions and steeply banked turns for that reason, and can only imagine what would happen if unconscious. That poor man, and his mother - I can’t even fathom.

 

[marmentrout85]

from reading more about it for the last hour roughly, sounds like the person passed out and ragdolled, and head was just banging against the seat (that's not confirmed, but that seems the most likely since they're saying trauma).

So guessing they may need to go to over the shoulder harness or add a heck of a lot of padding around the head area.

Oh no kidding!? Yeah in hindsight I didn't really pay attention to the seat padding around the head area on my rides.

 

[fatmanatee]

I would lean towards thinking he was hit by something as opposed to this happening due to his head banging around but we'll see. Witness says there was blood involved.

 

[Skywalker3]

That's such sad, awful news.

 

[HopperFan]

I would lean towards thinking he was hit by something as opposed to this happening due to his head banging around but we'll see. Witness says there was blood involved.

Someone who says they were on platform to load next … a woman who said they were doctor jumped rail, took off her shirt and applied to blood. He said as they left guy was slumped and there was a metal piece in seat that either wasn’t supposed to be there or part of a release TM used. ???? Said it was pure chaos.

 

[Opie100]

Terrible news. I usually hate many shoulder restraints (my head always bangs around on RRC to the degree to which I dislike riding it) but I can see now how passing out creates a whole new danger when there are no restraints like that. Surprising that a ride that has high G's / higher pass out risk doesn't have one. Praying for all involved.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

from reading more about it for the last hour roughly, sounds like the person passed out and ragdolled, and head was just banging against the seat (that's not confirmed, but that seems the most likely since they're saying trauma).

So guessing they may need to go to over the shoulder harness or add a heck of a lot of padding around the head area.

If this is true this may impact velocicoaster as well. Aren’t the restraint systems very similar?

 

[Minnie1222]

It looks like a GoFundMe page has been created for this man. The posted pictures indeed showed that he had an existing medical condition.

 

[hardcorestitch]

The guest who died was identified as a 32 year old Kevin Zavala from Kissimmee, per an Orange County medical examiner.

 

[Rory607]

It looks like a GoFundMe page has been created for this man. The posted pictures indeed showed that he had an existing medical condition.

But it doesn’t really explain him dying by blunt force trauma? That’s where I’m confused. It’s horrible and my heart goes out to his family no matter what happened. I’m also very wary of letting my kids ride when we’re there next month, assuming it’s reopened.

 

[BillFromCT]

But it doesn’t really explain him dying by blunt force trauma? That’s where I’m confused. It’s horrible and my heart goes out to his family no matter what happened. I’m also very wary of letting my kids ride when we’re there next month, assuming it’s reopened.

The assumption is he passed out and it was the swaying back and forth of the ride that caused him to be knocked around in the seat. Because your head is not pinned in there would be room to hit back and forth.

 

[sherlockmiles]

THis was probably mentioned here and I just missed it, but just in case.........it looks like starting at the end of May, 2026 "

• If traveling in 2026 includes admission ticket to move freely between all 4 Universal Theme Parks

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

But it doesn’t really explain him dying by blunt force trauma? That’s where I’m confused. It’s horrible and my heart goes out to his family no matter what happened. I’m also very wary of letting my kids ride when we’re there next month, assuming it’s reopened.

There is no universe in which this coaster will be open by next month.

Edit: Pun was unintended. But seriously, this is not going to reopen anytime soon with a blunt force trauma cause of death.