Breaking news: Guest dies, found unresponsive after riding Epic Universe coaster, Universal says
THIS IS BREAKING NEWS. WESH TWO IS CUTTING IN WITH THIS BREAKING NEWS UPDATE IN ORANGE COUNTY THIS MORNING. WE’RE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS WHERE AN EPIC UNIVERSE GUEST HAS DIED AT THE HOSPITAL AFTER RIDING A ROLLER COASTER. WE JUST GOT THIS STATEMENT IN FROM UNIVERSAL THAT READS, UNIVERSAL IS COOPERATING WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOLLOWING A TRAGIC EVENT INVOLVING A GUEST AT EPIC UNIVERSE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE GUEST BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AFTER RIDING STARDUST RACERS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE THE GUEST LATER DIED. NOW WE GOT WIND OF THIS AND STARTED INVESTIGATING. AROUND 9:00 WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WESH 2’S GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN HAS BEEN GATHERING DETAILS EVER SINCE THEN. JOINS US LIVE FROM THE PARK ENTRANCE RIGHT NOW. SO GAIL, WHAT’S THE LATEST? WHAT DO WE KNOW RIGHT NOW? WELL, CERTAINLY. SUMMER OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THIS PERSON WHO PASSED AWAY AT THE HOSPITAL. THIS IS TOUGH AS WE GET SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA’S TOURIST TO COME AND ENJOY THE THEME PARKS. WHAT WE CAN SHOW YOU IS WHAT CHOPPER TWO WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE TONIGHT. SINCE WE’VE BEEN OUT HERE NOW, THE CHOPPER WAS ABLE TO SEE A NUMBER OF FORENSIC TEAMS, A HUGE SHOW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, FORENSIC TEAMS THAT WAS NEAR THE RIDE. THE STARDUST RACERS TAKING PICTURES, OBVIOUSLY. AND GETTING WHAT INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN AS IT RELATES TO THIS SITUATION. THEN WE ALSO SAW THAT THERE WERE OTHER VANS, CRIME SCENE VANS THAT WERE AT THE REAR OF THE OF THE OF THE RIDE AND OF THE AREA BASICALLY SETTING UP, TRYING TO GET WHATEVER DETAILS THAT THEY CAN ABOUT THIS. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE SAD PART IS THE CAST MEMBERS WHO APPEAR TO BE CONSOLING THEMSELVES HERE AFTER THIS TRAGIC SITUATION. AGAIN, IF YOU’RE JUST JOINING US, AS SUMMER MENTIONED, OFF THE TOP OF THIS BREAK, A GUEST BECAME UNRESPONSIVE HERE AT UNIVERSAL EPIC UNIVERSE AT ONE OF THE RIDES THEY HAD GOTTEN OFF THE RIDES AT STARBUCKS RACERS AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THAT GUEST LATER DIED. AGAIN, THE SPOKESPERSON SAYS THAT THEY ARE COOPERATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT IS A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS. TONIGHT, I’M GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN REPORTING LIVE AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO FOR WESH TWO NEWS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, THE STARDUST RACER. WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT RECENTLY, THE DUAL LAUNCH COASTER LOCATED IN THE CELESTIAL PARK AREA. IT GOES UP TO 62 MILES AN HOUR, ABOUT 133FT HIGH. THE TRACK, ABOUT 5000FT LONG. AND AGAIN, JUST A TRAGIC SITUATION. RIGHT NOW. WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY VERY CLOSELY. WE’LL HAVE UPDATES ON AIR AND ONLINE@WESH.COM. WE WILL BEGIN OUR LIVE TEAM COVERAGE STARTIN
Breaking news: Guest dies, found unresponsive after riding Epic Universe coaster, Universal says
Updated: 12:37 AM EDT Sep 18, 2025
A guest at Epic Universe has died following a ride on Stardust Racers late Wednesday, leading to an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.The guest was found unresponsive after riding the dual rollercoaster and was taken to the hospital, where they later died, according to a statement from Universal. Chopper 2 was live on the scene and captured exclusive video of a large law enforcement presence, including crime scene vans and a forensic team taking photos of the ride vehicle in the loading area. Statement from Universal spokespersonUniversal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night. The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A guest at Epic Universe has died following a ride on Stardust Racers late Wednesday, leading to an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The guest was found unresponsive after riding the dual rollercoaster and was taken to the hospital, where they later died, according to a statement from Universal.
Chopper 2 was live on the scene and captured exclusive video of a large law enforcement presence, including crime scene vans and a forensic team taking photos of the ride vehicle in the loading area.
Statement from Universal spokesperson
Universal is cooperating with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office following a tragic event involving a guest at Epic Universe on Wednesday night. The guest became unresponsive after riding Stardust Racers and was transported to the hospital, where the guest later died. We are devastated by this event and extend our sincerest sympathies to the guest’s loved ones. We are fully committed to cooperating with this ongoing investigation. The attraction remains closed.