Woman Remains on Ventilator Months After Riding Six Flags' X2 Roller Coaster Amid Lawsuits

A 25-year-old woman has been on a ventilator for months following severe brain damage sustained after riding the X2 rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California in July, according to a lawsuit.

Naomi Greer-Wilkinson collapsed after the ride and has remained in a coma with a traumatic brain injury ever since. Her family stated she has not returned home and is unable to breathe independently. Her parents reported that a surgeon expressed frustration over the number of injuries linked to the ride, questioning why it had not been shut down.

Greer-Wilkinson's situation is highlighted in a series of lawsuits filed by Dordick Law against Six Flags, alleging the park has been aware of the ride's dangers for years. Attorney Gary Dordick stated that thrill-seekers have come forward claiming more than 100 instances of severe brain injuries on the attraction.

Six days before Greer-Wilkinson's alleged injury, Pamela Guillen, 40, also reportedly suffered severe brain damage on the X2 while celebrating her daughter's 16th birthday. Guillen described feeling confused and disoriented after exiting the ride, with her next memory being waking up in the hospital two weeks later following emergency brain surgery and intubation. Her daughter recounted seeing her mother appear lifeless immediately after the ride, with a significant brain bleed requiring surgeons to remove part of her skull to relieve pressure. Guillen has since undergone rehabilitation to relearn walking and speaking, but continues to experience daily headaches and fatigue.

Another plaintiff, attorney Michael Wick, claims he suffered injuries so severe from riding the X2 that he is now unable to practice law. He reported undergoing two brain surgeries following his experience.

The X2 rollercoaster is known for its intense design, reaching speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour and flipping rider seats 360 degrees. It is described as one of the most extreme rollercoasters globally, with only two other similar rides existing in China and Japan.

The ride has been closed since July 12, the same evening Greer-Wilkinson was injured. Six Flags issued a statement to ABC7 saying, "The ride remains closed at this time. It has been closed since the evening of July 12. It is our policy not to comment on pending litigation."

In 2022, a 22-year-old college graduate, Christopher Hawley, died approximately ten hours after riding the X2. A coroner's report attributed his death to blunt head trauma sustained during a "park ride accident." Hawley's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit, which has since been settled with Six Flags and the coaster train supplier, though the terms remain undisclosed.

Dordick indicated plans to file additional lawsuits, arguing that patrons do not assume the risk of catastrophic brain damage when choosing to ride a rollercoaster. He stated, "They don't assume a risk of death or catastrophic brain damage for some family fun."