Six Flags Magic Mountain Retires X2 Coaster Amid Brain Injury Lawsuits

Six Flags Magic Mountain is permanently closing its X2 roller coaster, the Southern California theme park announced Tuesday, ending a nearly 20-year run for a ride that drew thrill-seekers from around the world.

The decision comes amid mounting legal claims. The park recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old who died the day after riding X2. He was taken to the hospital following the ride with severe brain bleeding, and the medical examiner's office attributed his death to blunt head trauma. The case was settled at the end of August, just days before trial was set to begin.

Three additional lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries were filed last week. The ride has been closed since the evening of July 12, after two women who rode it less than a week apart both required emergency hospital treatment upon exiting.

One of them, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, collapsed shortly after the ride ended. She was found to have extensive bleeding inside the skull and underwent emergency brain surgery. She remains in a vegetative state, unable to speak or move and dependent on a ventilator. Her family filed suit against Six Flags on her behalf.

Attorneys for her family said more than 100 people have claimed brain injuries from the coaster over the past two years, and additional lawsuits are expected in the coming weeks.

Park President Brian Oerding said in an online announcement that the ride had consistently passed numerous safety tests, but the park chose to close it because "we believe it's the right thing to do." He added that ride safety is a cornerstone of the business and that the park takes concerns about guest confidence seriously.

According to the park's website, X2 reaches a top speed of 76 mph (122 kph) and spans 3,610 feet (1,100 meters). Its seats rotate 360 degrees, flipping riders throughout the journey, and the track features two "raven turns" — half loops that transition into sheer drops midway.

The coaster debuted in 2002 as X, billed as the world's first "fourth-dimension" roller coaster. It reopened in 2008 as X2 with new trains and special effects, and its unusual design earned it a devoted fanbase among coaster enthusiasts.