Journalist

Martin E Comas

Martin E. Comas covers Seminole County and its seven cities for the Orlando Sentinel. Martin is a University of Central Florida graduate with degrees in journalism and business administration. He is fluent in Spanish.

Universal Orlando employees ride Stardust Racers roller coaster Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, as Epic Universe prepares to reopen the attraction in Orlando, Florida. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Five people sue Universal Orlando, claiming Stardust Racers caused severe injuries

December 22, 2025 at 7:18 a.m.

It’s the same intense roller coaster that 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala rode on the night of Sept. 17 and died shortly afterward.

Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, died from multiple blunt impact injuries while riding the Stardust Racers thrill ride at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (GoFundMe page)

‘Blood surrounding him’: Report details horrific Epic Universe death

December 12, 2025 at 11:18 a.m.

The sheriff's office said the roller coaster fatality was an accident, and no criminal charges were warranted.

Attorney Ben Crump shows a photo of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, on Monday, Oct. 6, during a press conference at the Crowne Plaza Orlando Downtown hotel. He is standing alongside members of Zavala’s family and his legal team. Zavala, who loved Star Wars and roller coasters, died Sept. 17 after riding Universal Orlando Resort’s new thrill ride Stardust Racers. (Martin E. Comas/Orlando Sentinel)

Family’s attorney denounces Universal Orlando for reopening Stardust Racers coaster

October 6, 2025 at 1:29 p.m.

Attorney Ben Crump lashed out at Universal Orlando Resort on Monday, calling it “deeply disturbing” for the theme park to reopen its Stardust Racers ride before his investigators could inspect...

Guests ride Stardust Racers, a dueling roller coaster ride in Celestial Park, during a preview day for Universal's Epic Universe on April 5, 2025. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentine

Universal Studios in Orlando will reopen Stardust Racers 17 days after man’s death

October 3, 2025 at 12:33 p.m.

Guests in wheelchairs must be able to walk independently to the ride and staff will no longer be able to assist them, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.

Attorney Ben Crump speaks about the death of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, while surrounded by Zavala’s family, during a press conference in downtown Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Zavala died Sept. 17 from blunt impact injuries after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe. (Spectrum News 13)

Attorney: Universal Stardust Racers coaster had history of complaints before Zavala died

September 30, 2025 at 11:27 a.m.

Attorney Ben Crump and the family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala on Tuesday angrily accused theme park giant Universal Studios Orlando of ignoring complaints from riders about the safety and lack...

Attorney Benjamin Crump answers questions with family members of Kevin Zavala — including Zavala’s mother Ana Zavala and father Carlos Rodriguez Ortiz, right —during a press conference in downtown Orlando, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Zavala died Sept. 17 from blunt impact injuries after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

‘We have to get answers.’ Attorney casts doubt on safety of Epic Universe coaster

September 24, 2025 at 1:42 p.m.

'How does a person end up dead riding on your Stardust Racer roller coaster?' Crump said. 'Universal Studios, you have to make this right on so many levels.'

This infrared satellite image shows Hurricane Milton off Florida's Gulf Coast on the morning of Oct. 9, 2024. (Handout/NOAA/GOES-East/TNS)

NOAA predicts ‘above average’ number of storms in hurricane season starting June 1

May 22, 2025 at 10:50 a.m.

Experts with NOAA are expecting between 13 and 19 named storms.

Crowds gathered at the annual Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola in Orlando on Saturday when drones began colliding and falling. One drone injured a 7-year-old boy who has undergone emergency heart surgery, according to his mother Adriana Edergton. The FAA is investigating the incident. (Renata Prichard/Courtesy)

Boy struck by drone at Florida holiday show remains in intensive care, mother says

December 24, 2024 at 1:50 p.m.

The 7-year-old underwent emergency open-heart surgery after one of several drones that fell from the sky and struck him in the chest and mouth.

Donald Trump has announced several cabinet selection such as former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who faced a House ethics investigation, as attorney general, anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services

Calls mount for release of ethics report on Matt Gaetz and his ties to Joel Greenberg

November 15, 2024 at 10:46 a.m.

Committee’s investigation reportedly explores allegations of sexual misconduct, including with an underage girl in Florida.

All Stories