Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the MagicMack Rides, the creators behind Stardust Racers from Epic Universe, have finally addressed the tragedy that struck the theme park industry in September at this year’s International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo.
Epic Universe Tragedy Finally Uncovered as CEO of Ride Company Speaks Out
A sudden hush fell over the packed IAAPA show floor—one of those rare moments when even the brightest screens and loudest reveals seem to fade into the background. Industry insiders gathered to glimpse the next generation of theme-park technology, expecting bold announcements, wild new ride concepts, and a flood of headlines. What they didn’t expect was a somber shift in tone—one that carried far beyond the Orange County Convention Center. What revelation could turn an innovation-driven expo into a moment of reflection?
As it turns out, one of the industry’s most influential voices had something more personal, and more difficult, to address.
A Spotlight on Innovation — and an Unspoken Weight
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo on November 18, 2025, brought together nearly every major figure in themed entertainment. Among them was Mack Rides CEO Christian von Elverfeldt, representing a company known globally for its precision engineering and high-profile attractions—including multiple rides in Orlando.
WESH 2 News secured an exclusive interview with von Elverfeldt, eager to discuss the company’s latest project, a new ride that has already generated buzz among coaster enthusiasts. Mack Rides, after all, has built its reputation on pushing boundaries while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
But beneath the excitement surrounding future attractions lingered a story the company had not yet spoken about publicly—one that reshaped the tone of the entire conversation.
The Tragedy That Still Reverberates
Back on September 17, 2025, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala rode Stardust Racers, the innovative racing coaster located at Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe. Mack Rides designed and manufactured the attraction, making the incident especially close to the company’s leadership.
Rodriguez Zavala tragically passed away later that day at the hospital from multiple blunt-force impact injuries, according to the medical examiner’s report. His death immediately prompted state investigations, as well as deep concern within the theme-park community.
Until this week, Mack Rides had not publicly commented on the tragedy.
A Difficult First Statement
During the interview, von Elverfeldt expressed condolences with careful clarity.
“I’m really sorry for this poor family and guy,” he told WESH 2. “But we don’t know yet what really happened. We only know that the ride worked very well.”
The CEO reiterated his confidence in the ride’s function, aligning with the findings shared by specialists involved in the ongoing investigation.
“All the specialists said the ride worked perfectly,” he noted.
For an industry built on precision engineering and rigorous safety testing, this statement mattered. It shed light on why the ride’s operational status evolved the way it did.
Safety at the Forefront
When asked about safety on Mack-built attractions worldwide, von Elverfeldt emphasized what he considers the company’s core value:
“Safety is, of course, the most important thing because there are human beings on our rides—maybe 12 months, 10 hours a day. So, this is most important for us.”
The deeper impact here isn’t simply a statement—it’s a reaffirmation of how crucial constant oversight, inspections, and engineering redundancies are to theme-park operations. In an industry where even one incident can shake guest confidence, transparency and a recommitment to safety carry enormous weight.
The Ride Reopens — and the Questions That Follow
Despite the Rodriguez Zavala family’s request to keep Stardust Racers closed until more answers emerged, Universal Orlando Resort reopened the attraction on October 4. The company stated that its team followed all safety procedures and that the ride was operating as designed. Universal also implemented updated rider requirements after the September incident.
These changes—while standard practice in many investigations—reignite a broader conversation across the theme-park community about how rider guidelines evolve, how manufacturers and parks communicate, and how tragedies influence future safety decisions.
And that’s the undercurrent running beneath this week’s IAAPA interview: even at an event built to showcase the future, the industry must continuously reckon with the lessons of its present.