Man's death on roller coaster at Epic Universe park in Florida ruled accident

A man who died while on a Florida roller coaster in September flew forward and struck his head on a seat multiple times, his girlfriend told investigators, according to a sheriff’s report released Thursday

A man who died while on a Florida roller coaster in September flew forward and struck his head on a seat multiple times, his girlfriend told investigators, according to a sheriff’s report released Thursday.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in the report that the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, who the medical examiner ruled died of multiple blunt injuries, was deemed accidental in nature.

Rodriguez Zavala was unresponsive after going on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal’s recently opened Universal Epic Universe in Orlando on Sept. 17, officials said at the time.

Man dies from blunt impact injuries after going on Epic Universe theme park roller coaster01:46Rodriguez Zavala used a wheelchair because of a pre-existing spinal condition, and his girlfriend and a ride employee said that his ride restraint had been pushed down several times to lock it in place, the sheriff’s report says.

The girlfriend, who was with him on the ride, said that it took two to three attempts to get the restraint to secure, according to the report.