The Universal Orlando roller coaster that made headlines last year after a man died while riding is back in the news again.
Both trains on Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers halted on their tracks and got stranded in a valley on Sunday, Jan. 18, according to reports.
Inside the Magic reported that no riders were on board Stardust Racers when the malfunction occurred, so an evacuation wasn’t necessary. However, the coaster remained closed Sunday and Monday.
In an interview with Orlando’s FOX 35, ride specialist Daniel Leavelle stated the stoppage is “rare but not unprecedented.” He told the news station that colder temperatures likely caused it, adding that it can affect lubrication and further slow the train.
Universal Orlando has not issued an official statement.
What is Stardust Racers? Where is Stardust Racers located?
Stardust Racers is a dual-launch racing coaster located in the Celestial Park section of Epic Universe.
How fast does Stardust Racers go? How intense is Stardust Racers?
Stardust Racers reaches speeds of 62 mph, rises to 133 feet in the air, and runs along 5,000 feet of track.
The coaster begins with two powerful launches, with another toward the end of the ride. The two tracks glide between each other many times throughout the ride, including during the “Celestial Spin.”
What is the difference between yellow and green tracks on Stardust Racers?
There is no difference in the tracks on Stardust Racers when certain spins happen, according to officials.
Vice President of Creative Management and Branding at Universal Orlando, Adam Rivest, recommended the green track during the day and the yellow track at night solely for the scenery.
What are the physical requirements to ride Stardust Racers?
According to Universal Orlando’s website, guests:
There is also a height requirement: a minimum of 48 inches (4 feet).
Guests are required to store all loose items in lockers and will go through metal detectors before riding.
What happened with the death on Stardust Racers?
Kimmissee resident Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, was found unresponsive on the Stardust Racers coaster after riding it late at night on Sept. 17 and later died on the same night. Universal Orlando officials shut down the ride for an investigation into what happened, while Rodriguez’s family has publicly pursued answers into what went wrong.
The family of Zavala had retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump to investigate the death and see what the theme park is doing to prevent this from happening again.
As of December 2025, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office determined that no criminal acts occurred in Zavala’s death. Sheriff’s investigators said the case was ruled an accident and is closed, releasing a final incident report on Dec. 11.
In a statement shared with USA TODAY NETWORK Florida, Crump and the family offered this statement:
“The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala and Universal have reached an amicable resolution in this matter. The terms are confidential. The family is grateful for the community’s support and asks for privacy at this time.”
Is Universal being sued over Stardust Racers injuries?
Five lawsuits were filed against Universal and Mack Rides, the designer, manufacturer and seller of the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe last year.
According to the complaints filed in Orange County Circuit Court by Orlando personal injury attorney Nick Spetsas, five people suffered “severe and permanent injuries” after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster between April and September 2025.
All are represented by Orlando personal injury lawyer Nick Spetsas. The plaintiffs are Bonita Freeman of Virginia; Jason Rodriguez of Miami-Dade County, Florida; Brittany Smiley of Ohio; Breanna Bradford of Brevard County, Florida; and Debbie Reinelt of North Carolina.
Where is Epic Universe located?
Florida’s Epic Universe is located at 1001 Epic Boulevard in Orlando. Universal Orlando’s newest theme park opened its doors earlier this year, in May, the first for Orlando in over 25 years.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What is Stardust Racers? Epic Universe coaster stalls on track
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
