WKMG News 6 has learned that state amusement ride inspectors dispatched to Universal’s Epic Universe (Epic Universe) following the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala after being found unresponsive on Stardust Racers on the 17th September, 2025, did not write any reports or take any photos.
The three government employees also didn’t send/receive any emails related to their work at Epic Universe, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
FYI: The Orange County Sheriff says the “criminal investigation” into the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala continues.
“There are no responsive records,” an FDACS representative told WKMG News 6 in response to a public records request. The established outlet were seeking documents, notes, and more produced by the state ride inspectors.
Days after the death of Zavala, and before state ride inspectors completed their work at Epic Universe, FDACS issued a public statement indicating it concurred with Universal Orlando’s internal assessment that Stardust Racers “functioned as intended.”
“The department’s current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information,” a spokesperson for Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said on the 22nd September, 2025.
The agency hasn’t explained how its inspectors communicated their findings to FDACS headquarters in Tallahassee or why there appears to be no formal documentation of their work.
FDACS is responsible for inspecting amusement rides and conducting accident investigations. Theme park operators like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are exempt from FDACS oversight under a 1992 state law. This is because they employ more than 1,000 people and have in-house safety inspectors.
Places like Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World have to file affidavits with FDACS documenting annual ride inspections. As part of a separate “Memorandum of Understanding” between FDACS and the Florida-based theme parks, all ride-related deaths and certain injuries must be reported to the state. You can read the “Memorandum of Understanding” below:
FDACS released a statement saying it was aware of the incident at Epic Universe and had “an investigator on scene.” This statement was released the day after Zavala was found unresponsive on Stardust Racers. Universal Orlando voluntarily invited FDACS to observe testing and inspections.
Mark Gonzalez, state ride inspector for 22 years, spent more than 15 hours over four days at Epic Universe, records (via WKMG News 6) show.
Gonzalez and another unnamed state ride inspector started work at 9:45am on the 18th September, 2025, and finished approximately 12:30pm.
Records show (via WKMG News 6) Gonzalez carried on his work the next morning at 1:00am, where he was joined by a different unnamed state ride inspector until 4:30am.
The day after FDACS released a statement saying the agency’s findings aligned with Universal Orlando’s internal assessment, records show (via WKMG News 6) spent four-and-a-half hours doing work related to Stardust Racers, followed by four more.
WKMG News 6 submitted a public record request to FDACS seeking “all documents and notes created by the FDACS investigator/observer related to his/her observation of the roller coaster testing and inspections.”
The established outlet also requested all the photos and videos “recorded by (or provided to)” the FDACS investigator and all emails “sent and received by the investigator” related to Epic Universe work.
FDACS eventually responded to WKMG News 6’s public records request, stating that “there are no responsive records.” This is to new to us!
The agency normally produces written and other documents when it investigates incidents at smaller theme parks where the state has legal jurisdiction. This is a first for us! Stay tuned for further updates.
You can find out more about the tragic Stardust Racers incident involving Zavala in the links below:
- Guest Found Unresponsive After Riding Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe Dies [Update]
- Aerial Video Shows Forensic Team Investigating Death of Guest After Riding Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe
- Multiple Blunt Impact Injuries Ruled Cause of Death for Guest Found Unresponsive on Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe
- VIDEO: Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe Cycling Two Days After Death of Guest Found Unresponsive After Riding
- “Everyone Get Out!”: Eyewitness Heard When Stardust Racers Train With Unresponsive Guest Returned to Loading Station
- FOX 35 ORLANDO REPORT: Incident report, dispatch audio released in Epic Universe rider’s death
- Dispatch Audio After Guest Riding Stardust Racers Found Unresponsive Emerges Online
- Famous Civil Rights Attorney to Represent Family of Guest Who Died After Being Found Unresponsive on Stardust Racers [Update]
- Video Appears to Show Unresponsive Guest on Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe [Update]
- Famous Civil Rights Attorney Demands Accountability from Universal’s Epic Universe After Guest Died from Multiple Blunt Impact Injuries
- Guest Injured on Stardust Racers Said Someone Was Going to Get Severely Injured or Killed Riding It
- Famous Civil Rights Attorney Demands Universal Orlando Pause Reopening of Stardust Racers
- “There Was Blood Everywhere”: Alleged Eyewitness Riding Says When Stardust Racers Train With Kevin Rodriguez Zavala Onboard Returned to Loading Station
- Famous Civil Rights Attorney Slams Decision to Reopen Stardust Racers Following Guest’s Death
- “Head Laceration, Heavy Bleeding”: 911 Call Reveals Moments After Guest Found Unresponsive on Stardust Racers
- Family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala Once Again Demands Closure of Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe
- Guests Pretending to be Unresponsive on Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe, Team Members Panicked
EXTRA
- PHOTO: Boom Lift and “Construction Lights” Spotted Near Stardust Racers Track at Universal’s Epic Universe
- Woman Claims She Was Injured on Stardust Racers at Universal’s Epic Universe
- Guest’s Lawsuit Over Stardust Racers Injuries Voluntary Dismissed After Settlement Agreed
Stay tuned to Orlando Theme Park Zone for more Orlando theme park-related news and information.
H/T WKMG News 6
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