Six Flags Magic Mountain Retires X2 Roller Coaster Amid Brain Injury Lawsuits
The Southern California theme park's decision follows a wrongful death settlement and multiple lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is permanently retiring its X2 roller coaster, a popular ride that has been operating for nearly 20 years, amid a series of lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries and a recent wrongful death settlement. The Southern California theme park announced the closure Tuesday.
The decision comes after the park settled a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who died in 2022 after riding the coaster. Three more lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries were filed last week.
"While X2 consistently passed a multitude of safety tests, we have decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do," park President Brian Oerding stated in an online announcement. "Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously."
The X2 ride has been closed since July 12, after two women who rode the coaster within a week of each other required hospitalization upon exiting. One of those riders, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, reportedly collapsed and was found to have extensive brain bleeding, necessitating emergency surgery. She remains in a vegetative state, according to her family.
Attorneys representing Greer-Wilkinson claim that over 100 individuals have reported suffering brain injuries from the roller coaster in the past two years, with more lawsuits anticipated.
According to the park's website, the X2 roller coaster reaches speeds of up to 76 mph and features seats that rotate 360 degrees throughout the ride, along with two "raven turns" which are half-loops that transition into drops. The ride, originally named X, debuted in 2002 as the world's first "fourth-dimension" roller coaster. It was later relaunched in 2008 as X2 with updated trains and special effects, drawing thrill-seekers globally.
The settlement with the Hawley family was finalized in late August, just days before the trial was scheduled to commence. The medical examiner's office determined that Hawley's death was caused by blunt head trauma.