Mother Sues Universal and Mack Rides, Saying Son Lost Consciousness on Epic Universe's Stardust Racers

A mother has sued Universal Orlando and German ride maker Mack Rides, alleging her minor son lost consciousness on Stardust Racers at Epic Universe and suffered head, facial, orthopedic and spinal injuries, adding another case to the legal fallout surrounding the Orlando park's signature dual-launch roller coaster.

The complaint, filed Aug. 17, 2026, by Jennifer Lundy on behalf of her son, who is identified in court papers only by his initials, was first filed in Orange County circuit court and was moved to federal court on Sept. 18, according to WDW News Today, which reported on the filing in early October. The Florida Press is not naming the child.

The alleged incident took place Oct. 13, 2025, nine days after Stardust Racers reopened following the death of a rider in September 2025. The new suit lands as Universal heads into its second fall season at Epic Universe, the park that opened in May 2025 and has become a pillar of Central Florida's tourism economy.

What the lawsuit alleges

According to the complaint as described by WDW News Today and other outlets, the boy lost consciousness as a result of the forces generated by the ride. While he was unconscious, the suit says, he had no head, neck or upper body restraint or support, and he sustained injuries to his head and face along with orthopedic and spinal injuries. Lundy claims the injuries are severe and permanent.

The defendants named in the suit are Universal City Development Partners, the entity that operates Universal Orlando Resort, and Mack Rides, the Germany-based company that designed and built the coaster. Lundy is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, the minimum amount for a case to be heard in Florida circuit court, along with payment for her son's past and future medical care and treatment.

The claims are allegations, and neither company has been found liable. Reports on the new filing did not include a response from Universal or Mack Rides. Cases filed in state court are commonly moved to federal court by defendants when the parties are from different states or countries, and Mack Rides is based in Germany; the federal docket will now govern the schedule for responses and any motions to dismiss.

The ride and the 2025 death

Stardust Racers opened with Epic Universe on May 22, 2025, as the headline attraction of the park's Celestial Park area. The steel, dual-tracked launched coaster reaches 133 feet and 62 mph, with about 5,000 feet of track on each side, and its two trains race and nearly collide at several points.

On Sept. 17, 2025, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, of Kissimmee, was found unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and later died. Zavala had a spinal injury and used a wheelchair. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and ruled the manner of death an accident, according to CBS News and Orlando-area outlets.

Attorneys for Zavala's family, including Ben Crump, argued that he suffered repeated head strikes during the ride. "His disability did not kill him. It was the blunt force trauma," the family's lawyers said, according to CBS News. Universal Orlando President Karen Irwin said at the time that the company's internal findings indicated the ride systems functioned normally, the equipment was intact and proper procedures were followed.

Universal, Mack Rides and Florida state inspectors reviewed the coaster and found it safe and functioning properly, and Stardust Racers reopened Oct. 4, 2025. With the reopening, Universal changed its rider safety guide. According to WKMG News 6, the ride was moved off the list of attractions that accommodate guests transferring from wheelchairs and onto a list requiring guests to "walk independently," and a new symbol warns guests not to board if they have "weakened bones or muscles" or "the inability to independently maintain an upright position." Universal said it was updating operational procedures and signage to reinforce existing ride warnings and physical eligibility requirements.

In December 2025, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Zavala's family had reached a settlement with Universal, according to the family's attorney. Terms were not disclosed in that report.

A growing list of claims

The Lundy suit is not the first injury claim tied to the coaster. Within two weeks of Zavala's death, an attorney for his family said other riders had come forward reporting injuries and alleged the coaster had a history of complaints, according to WESH and the Orlando Sentinel. In December 2025, five people sued Universal, claiming Stardust Racers caused them severe injuries, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Those suits, like the new one, allege negligence in the design, operation, maintenance and control of the ride. A tourist has also said publicly that she suffered a concussion and neck injuries on the same coaster.

Universal has not acknowledged any defect, and the state inspection after Zavala's death found the ride operating properly. None of the injury claims has gone to trial.

Key dates in the Stardust Racers story so far:

Why it matters for Florida

Florida's largest theme parks are not inspected by the state agency that oversees most amusement rides. Under a long-standing exemption in state law, parks with more than 1,000 employees and full-time safety staff conduct their own inspections and report serious injuries to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through quarterly reports. That framework has drawn renewed attention since Zavala's death, because the public record of ride injuries at Universal, Walt Disney World and SeaWorld comes largely from those self-reported filings and from lawsuits like this one.

Epic Universe is also central to Orlando's tourism numbers. The park was Universal's first new Florida theme park since Islands of Adventure opened in 1999, and Stardust Racers is one of its most-promoted attractions. Repeated litigation over the same ride keeps the safety question in front of visitors, regulators and the courts.

What's next

With the case now in federal court, Universal and Mack Rides will file their formal responses to the complaint, which could include motions to dismiss or to narrow the claims. The court will then set a schedule for discovery, where the parties exchange ride data, maintenance records and medical evidence. The earlier Stardust Racers suits are moving on their own tracks, and any rulings in those cases on the ride's design or warnings could shape how the Lundy case proceeds.