Six Flags Magic Mountain has temporarily closed its X2 rollercoaster due to a series of severe injuries linked to the ride, including cases of life-altering disabilities, comas, and deaths. The closure came after a report highlighted more than a dozen serious incidents associated with the attraction since its opening in 2002.
Most recently, two catastrophic brain injury incidents occurred less than a week apart. On July 12, Pamela Guillen, 40, of Hawaii lost consciousness after riding X2 and was hospitalized with brain injuries typically seen in high-speed collisions, leaving her in a coma for two weeks. Days later, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, from Los Angeles, was hospitalized from the same ride and remained in a coma as of the report.
A History of Incidents
According to medical records, depositions, and legal filings, X2 has been associated with numerous injuries. In 2014, 17-year-old Salena O'Neil experienced a subdural hematoma, a brain injury, after riding X2. Doctors later detailed her case in a medical journal, attributing her injuries to acceleration forces from a rollercoaster and warning that advancements in ride technology could exceed passengers' physical tolerance.
Court filings revealed that at least five riders had visited the hospital after riding X2 prior to O'Neil's incident, including a 62-year-old man who sued the park in 2009 for a traumatic brain injury allegedly caused by the ride.
In 2022, Christopher Hawley, 22, died less than 10 hours after riding X2. Court records indicate he experienced head trauma, hitting his head multiple times on the seat and complaining of lightheadedness before being hospitalized. Doctors discovered severe brain bleeding that was compressing his skull. The LA County Medical Examiner ruled his death a result of blunt head trauma.
Previously, in 2010, Hilda Farias, 28, died after riding X2. Experts suspected her death was linked to a brain abnormality that ruptured due to the ride's intense forces.
Understanding X2's Design
The X2 is described as a 'four-dimensional' rollercoaster, reaching speeds of 76 mph and featuring a 215-foot drop. Its unique design includes seats that rotate independently, a feature that contributes to extreme forces on riders. During two specific maneuvers, known as 'raven turns,' the carriages spin upside down while inverting, directing riders backward towards sheer drops. Only two other rollercoasters globally share a similar design.
Medical experts explain that the rapid acceleration and deceleration experienced during these movements can cause rapid deformations of the brain within the skull, potentially leading to diffuse axonal injury, tissue tears, and vascular disruptions. Scientists have noted that while forces from most rollercoasters are comparable to sprinting or less than a football header, X2's design generates significantly greater impact.
Rollercoaster Safety
While millions ride rollercoasters annually with relatively few injuries, severe incidents and fatalities, though rare, do occur. Studies from the early 2000s indicated a small number of deaths and thousands of emergency room visits for amusement ride injuries in the U.S. each year, primarily involving head and neck injuries.
However, researchers emphasize that brain trauma is not an expected risk from typical rollercoaster rides. Experts suggest that rides can be designed to prevent such injuries, but acknowledge that higher-risk attractions like X2 warrant further investigation into their safety protocols and design.