Six Flags Magic Mountain has closed its X2 roller coaster following a report detailing over a dozen severe injuries, including life-altering disabilities, comas, and fatalities, linked to the ride since its debut in 2002.
The park confirmed the ride was shut down on the evening of July 12, a day after two separate incidents involving severe brain injuries occurred within a week of each other. A CNN investigation, however, revealed a history of serious incidents associated with X2.
Pamela Guillen, 40, of Hawaii, reportedly lost consciousness after riding X2 in July and was subsequently hospitalized with brain injuries typically seen in high-speed collisions. She remained in a coma for two weeks. Shortly after, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, of Los Angeles, also fell into a coma after riding the same attraction. As of the report, the park stated the ride remains closed.
Medical records and legal filings indicate X2 has been associated with more than a dozen serious injuries and hospitalizations. In 2014, 17-year-old Salena O'Neil experienced blurred vision and difficulty walking after riding X2. Doctors diagnosed her with a subdural hematoma, a condition involving bleeding on the brain. Her case was later detailed in a medical journal by physicians who warned that advancements in rollercoaster technology might be exceeding human tolerance for acceleration forces.
Before O'Neil's injury, court filings by her family indicated at least five other riders had sought hospital treatment after experiencing X2. Among them was a 62-year-old man who sued the park in 2009, alleging a traumatic brain injury caused by the ride.
Fatal Incidents Linked to X2
In June 2022, Christopher Hawley, 22, died less than 10 hours after riding X2. Court records stated he and his relatives were thrown around the ride, and Hawley complained of lightheadedness. Hospital doctors discovered severe bleeding in his brain that was compressing it. The LA County Medical Examiner ruled his death was a result of blunt head trauma.
Previously, in 2010, Hilda Farias, a 28-year-old mother, died after riding X2. Experts suggested the intense forces of the ride may have caused a brain abnormality to rupture.
The Ride's Design and Risks
X2's unique 'four-dimensional' design, which includes independently rotating seats alongside speeds of 76 mph and a 215-foot drop, distinguishes it from many other roller coasters. During its "raven turns," the carriages flip upside down while inverting, directing riders backward during drops. These additional movements can generate rapid acceleration forces within the brain, potentially leading to diffuse axonal injury, tissue tears, and vascular disruptions, according to medical experts.
While millions ride roller coasters annually with relatively few injuries, incidents like those associated with X2 prompt further examination. Studies suggest that forces from typical roller coasters are generally comparable to running or mild football headers and unlikely to cause significant brain trauma. However, the specific design and forces generated by rides like X2 may warrant closer scrutiny, as experts emphasize that head injuries should not be an expected risk of riding roller coasters.