ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Five theme park visitors filed separate lawsuits against Universal Orlando\u2019s parent company Thursday claiming they sustained \u201csevere and permanent injuries\u201d after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe.<\/p>\n
One of the plaintiffs, Debbie Reinelt of North Carolina, alleges that she required medical care after experiencing dizziness, headache and nausea following her ride on May 5 during previews of the new theme park, which officially opened about two weeks later.<\/p>\n
Breanna Bradford of Florida, Bonita Freeman of Virginia, Jason Rodriguez of Florida, and Brittany Smiley of Ohio are plaintiffs in the other four lawsuits.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Universal Orlando told News 6 the company does not comment on pending litigation.<\/p>\n
The lawsuits were filed days after the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office released a report concluding a man died \u201caccidentally\u201d<\/a> following a ride on the same roller coaster.<\/p>\n Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who was born with spinal atrophy and used a wheelchair, was found unresponsive on Stardust Racers Sept. 17.<\/p>\n [WATCH: Incident report sheds new light on Stardust Racers death at Epic Universe] <\/p>\n A doctor who was waiting in line for the roller coaster told investigators she believed Rodriguez Zavala\u2019s broken femur played a significant role <\/a>in the 32-year-old reportedly rising out of his seat and fatally striking his head on a metal bar.<\/p>\n A woman who shares the same first and last names as Reinelt, and who lives in the same small North Carolina county where the plaintiff resides, posted social media photos of herself at Epic Universe the same night the alleged injury occurred, News 6 has learned.<\/p>\n \u201cVery good day full of roller coasters,\u201d states a caption above photos of the smiling woman posing throughout the theme park. The woman later visited other Universal Orlando theme parks, social media posts indicate.<\/p>\n The social media posts make no mention of severe injuries.<\/p>\n Reinelt\u2019s attorney, Nicholas Spetsas, did not immediately respond to emails from News 6 inquiring whether his client is the same woman who appeared in the Facebook photos.<\/p>\n [WATCH: Guest sues Universal over Stardust Racers injuries]<\/p>\n Spetsas, who represents all five plaintiffs, previously represented a different Epic Universe visitor who filed a lawsuit in September <\/a>claiming she was also injured while riding Stardust Racers.<\/p>\n Sandi Streets alleged her head \u201cshook violently and slammed into her seat\u2019s headrest\u201d while riding the roller coaster on April 30, the lawsuit stated.<\/p>\n