Nurse sues Universal Epic Universe over Stardust Racer injuries
Sanford nurse seeks $50,000 alleging permanent neck injuries from the park's Stardust Racer; the ride is tied to a fatality and a police investigation
A Florida nurse has filed a negligence lawsuit against Universal City Development Partners, a unit of NBCUniversal, claiming permanent neck injuries from the Stardust Racer roller coaster at Epic Universe in Orlando. The complaint seeks $50,000 in damages and was filed in the Ninth Circuit Court in Orange County, Florida, on Wednesday, about a week after Kevin Zavala died on the same ride.
Sandi Streets, 49, was invited to Epic Universe for early access to Stardust Racer on April 30, weeks before the park opened on May 22, as an annual pass holder. The lawsuit asserts the ride’s restraint, described as a hip restraint similar to the bottom strap of a car seat belt, did not secure her upper body and allowed substantial movement during the ride, causing injuries to her neck.
Streets says the motion from the ride caused whiplash that resulted in permanent injuries, chronic headaches, and neck pain that persisted despite medical treatment. The complaint seeks damages for hospitalization, medical and nursing care, and past and future lost earnings.
Stardust Racer spans about 5,000 feet of track, reaching speeds up to 62 mph and climbing as high as 133 feet. It features two roller coasters that race and cross paths during the ride and is designed to simulate a comet racing through space. Universal Epic Universe warns riders about sudden acceleration, dramatic climbs, tilts, inversions and drops.
The death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a 32-year-old man who was wheelchair bound due to a lifelong medical condition, occurred on September 17 on the Stardust Racer. Authorities with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the cause of the trauma remains under investigation. The park has not disclosed a cause and the sheriff’s office continues its investigation. The ride was closed after the death, and Universal has said it will cooperate with the investigation and has not announced whether the ride will reopen.
Nick Spetsas, the attorney handling the Streets case, is with the accident and injury law firm Spetsas Buist, which he opened in January 2022 with partner Charles Buist. Spetsas is a former contestant on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, though the lawsuit notes no comment from Streets beyond stating she sought legal recourse following the incident.
Universal Epic Universe has declined to comment on Streets' lawsuit. In a prior statement, the company said it is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and extended its condolences to Zavala’s family. The park remains closed as investigators continue to examine the sequence of events surrounding Zavala’s death, and it has not said when the ride might reopen.
Epic Universe opened Stardust Racer on May 22, 2025, with one of the park’s most anticipated attractions. The ride’s dual-track design and rapid pacing are intended to deliver a high-thrill experience, while safety details on restraints and ride dynamics continue to be evaluated in the wake of Zavala’s death and Streets’ filing.