Orlando, Florida
AP
—
Attorneys for the household of a man who died last week after riding a curler coaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s latest theme park stated Monday that they imagine he smacked his head on a restraint throughout downward thrusts and was unconscious for a lot of the trip.
The attorneys for the household of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, stated the truth that he had a spinal disability from start and used a wheelchair performed no function in his death, and he had no medical points earlier than getting on the Stardust Racers trip at Epic Universe. At a information convention in Orlando, the legal professionals additionally took subject with a prime Universal govt final weekend saying in a observe to workers that “internal findings” confirmed the trip labored because it ought to have.
“They are quick to say that, ‘Well, the ride functioned as it was supposed to. Everything works properly.’ Well, just because it didn’t malfunction does not lead us to believe that there were not safety issues because we know something caused him to die,” stated famed civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, whose regulation agency is representing the household.
Zavala’s household described him as a theme park fanatic and a gamer with buddies worldwide from gaming. He treasured his independence and drove and cooked for himself. He additionally labored as an employment counselor for folks with disabilities, serving to them land jobs after which checking on them as soon as they began working. His mother and father stated they by no means handled him any in a different way than his sister and brother due to his disability.
“He was an extraordinary young man,” stated his father, Carlos Rodriguez.
Karen Irwin, Universal Orlando Resort’s president, stated in her observe that the interior findings confirmed trip programs functioned usually, tools was intact and Universal staff adopted the correct procedures. Investigators with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stated final Friday that their initial findings align with that of the theme park.
The curler coaster stays closed as Universal conducts a complete assessment of the trip with its producer.
“Safety is, and always will be, at the forefront of everything we do,” Irwin stated.
Zavala was pronounced useless final week at a hospital after riding the dual-launch coaster, which reaches speeds as much as 62 mph (100 kph). The medical expert for the Orlando space dominated the reason for death as a number of blunt influence accidents and stated the style of death was an accident.
Natalie Jackson, one other of the household’s attorneys, stated they imagine Zavala suffered repeated head strikes primarily based on what witnesses have stated. The household’s attorneys stated they’ve opened a line of communication with Universal officers, because the household seeks a full investigation into what occurred and needs that the trip stay shuttered till there’s an understanding of how Zavala died. They are also hiring a crew of consultants in trip design, security, manufacturing and operations to information their very own investigation.
“His disability did not kill him,” Jackson stated. “It was the blunt force trauma.”