A Lot Of Focus Has Been On The Epic Universe Coaster Death, But Another Ride Led To ‘Electrical Shock’ And A $12K Fine

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Okay, so Epic Universe hasn’t even been open a year, but wow, it’s already made a splash. I’ve been reading a lot about it, and most of the buzz is super positive – people are loving what they’re doing there. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, unfortunately. We all heard about the tragic death on the Stardust Racers coaster, which was awful. But it turns out someone was seriously hurt on another ride months before that, and it’s just now coming to light. It’s a real reminder that even with all the fun, safety has to be the top priority.

Epic Universe Received A Nearly $12K Fine Over Electric Shock Incident

I just read a really concerning report about an accident at Universal’s new Epic Universe park. Apparently, someone working on the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride was seriously injured by a high-voltage electrical component – a 480-volt busbar, to be exact. They got a bad shock and suffered some really awful injuries, including broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. This happened back on April 24th, so before the official opening on May 22nd, but after they’d already started letting people in for previews. It’s definitely worrying to hear about something like this happening before the park fully opens.

According to OSHA, a key component distributing power to the ride – called a busbar – wasn’t secured correctly. An employee was injured in the incident and required hospitalization.

It’s unclear who was supposed to make sure the busbar was safely secured, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined Universal Orlando Resort was at fault and issued a fine. The initial fine was $16,550, but the resort negotiated it down to $11,585.

In my opinion, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is the standout attraction at Epic Universe. However, getting it ready for guests was a challenge. It didn’t open with the initial previews, and for a while, it was often unclear if it would be running each day, while the other rides worked reliably. The ride even temporarily shut down for a few days before the park officially opened, as the team worked to ensure it was perfect for launch.

Epic Universe’s Most Tragic Event Appears To Be Over

Recently, a tragic incident at Epic Universe has come to light: Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, a guest with disabilities, passed away after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster. Investigations showed the ride was working as expected and no safety problems were identified.

Universal Orlando Resort and the family of Zavala have reached an agreement, resolving their dispute. While the specifics of the settlement aren’t being made public, it effectively ends the matter and means no further information about the incident will be released.

Now that the legal issues and safety concerns are resolved at Epic Universe, the park is expected to start 2026 with a fresh beginning. While minor injuries are common at theme parks, the hope is that there won’t be any further incidents of this scale.

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2025-12-19 20:08