Attorney Ben Crump recently announced that multiple victims have come forward with alleged injuries related to a fatal incident on an Epic Universe roller coaster in Orlando, Florida. (Credit: FOX 35 Orlando)
A roller coaster at the Universal Orlando Resort caught fire Friday morning.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is currently being demolished to make way for a new theme park attraction. The small fire occurred on part of the lift hill, the Orlando Fire Department told locals FOX 35 Orlando.
The ride closed on August 18. Many of the iconic features, such as the loop, have already been removed and Universal has not yet publicly announced what will replace the coaster.
Family hires prominent civil rights attorney after universal rollercoaster death
A general view of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster after the Premier League Summer Series Legends 5v5 at Universal Studios on July 24, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Universal Orlando Resort now has four parks following the opening of Universal Epic Universe in May.
Just last month, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala 32, died after riding with Stardust Racers in the Celestial Park section of the newest park.
UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE OPENS IN FLORIDA: TAKE A LOOK INSIDE
Attorney Benjamin Crump shows a photo of the Stardust Racers Epic Universe roller coaster during a press conference with Kevin Zavala’s family in downtown Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The ride opened again last weekend. Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Zavala’s family, called the planned reopening “a serious risk to public safety.”
“Reopening the ride before our experts can examine every element is an unadulterated plunder of evidence, a serious risk to public safety, and risks sacrificing people’s lives. Universal reportedly told its employees that the ride was functioning as intended. If that is correct, then the design itself is deadly. We demand that Universal pause the reopening, preserve all evidence, and allow our experts to review it inspect. If they refuse, we will address Universal’s callous actions in court,” Crump said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office incident report says Zavala’s girlfriend, who was at the theme park who was with him told police that Zavala, who used a wheelchair, was paraplegic and was taking medication.
Visitors ride the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at the Universal Studios theme park on the first day of reopening after the coronavirus pandemic, on June 5, 2020, in Orlando, Florida. (GREGG NEWTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Karen Irwin, president of Universal Orlando, said in a letter to Universal staff days before Stardust Racers reopened that “our comprehensive technical and operational review confirmed that the ride systems functioned properly during the boarding process, the duration of the ride, and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station, and that our team members followed procedures the entire time.”
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMCSA | COMCAST CORP. | 29.46 | -0.62 |
-2.06% |
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS
Universal Orlando Resort is part of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of Comcast NBCUniversal.
