Text messages show how Florida inspectors tracked Universal’s Stardust Racers death while formal documentation remained limited

Early alerts and a rapid on-site presence

Newly released text messages provide a detailed timeline of how Florida amusement-ride officials reacted after a guest died following a ride on Universal Orlando’s Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe on Sept. 17, 2025.

The messages show that state leadership at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) quickly alerted a state ride inspector about the death and discussed whether the Tallahassee headquarters would want staff deployed, noting that responding to an incident at a large, self-inspected theme park was outside the agency’s typical routine.

By the next morning, the inspector was coordinating entry and meeting logistics with Universal personnel at Epic Universe. State records later reflected that an inspector spent more than 15 hours over four days at the resort, with additional inspectors participating on some days.

Why the state’s role was observational, not supervisory

Florida law treats large, permanent theme parks differently from smaller amusement parks and traveling fairs. FDACS is the primary regulator for many rides statewide, but major parks that meet statutory criteria—including maintaining in-house safety inspection programs and employing more than 1,000 workers—are generally exempt from routine state inspections and investigations. In practice, those parks self-inspect, while still making certain notifications to the state after serious incidents.

In the Stardust Racers case, the messages and subsequent public statements show FDACS staff were present to observe testing and review information provided during the park’s internal process rather than conduct a conventional state-led investigation.

Alignment with Universal’s preliminary assessment

Text exchanges in the days after the death indicate that ride-system data being reviewed was considered “within parameters” and that the coaster would remain down pending manufacturer input. Within the week, Universal told employees a preliminary assessment found the ride “functioned as intended.” FDACS publicly stated that its “current findings” aligned with what the company shared after observing the same tests and reviewing the same information.

Additional texts show ongoing coordination for further sessions involving third-party participation, suggesting the evaluation process continued beyond initial testing.

Limited paper trail raises questions about transparency

A central issue emerging from public-record responses is the absence of traditional state documentation. FDACS indicated that the inspectors who observed testing at Epic Universe did not produce written reports or photographs—materials that are typically generated when the agency inspects or investigates rides at smaller facilities.

• State inspectors logged extensive on-site time but produced no formal reports or photo documentation tied to their observations.
• FDACS issued a public alignment statement shortly after the incident, even as the park’s review and manufacturer input were still in progress.
• Text messages provide granular timing and coordination details but do not comprehensively describe what inspectors saw or how findings were relayed internally.

“FYI, death called in on stardust racer.”

The death remains a focal point in broader scrutiny of Florida’s two-track oversight system—one in which smaller venues face direct state inspection authority, while major theme parks largely regulate themselves with state involvement that can be limited to notifications and observation.