Six Flags Roller Coaster Brain Injury Settlement Reached Over 22-Year-Old's X2 Death: How Much Was the Payout?

Six Flags Magic Mountain and a roller coaster train supplier have reached settlements with the family of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, resolving litigation over his death after riding the park's X2 coaster in 2022.

The agreements bring the wrongful death case to an end shortly before a jury trial was due to begin, but one major detail remains confidential: how much the family will receive.

Six Flags Roller Coaster Brain Injury Settlement

Hawley's parents, William and Anne Hawley, sued Magic Mountain LLC and S&S Worldwide Inc., which supplied replacement coaster trains for X2. Court filings confirmed that agreements had been reached with both defendants, although the amounts and specific conditions were not revealed.

Attorneys representing the Hawley family told KTLA they were pleased with the outcome and requested privacy as the family brings the case to a close.

Six Flags Magic Mountain did not provide a comment on the settlement when contacted by the broadcaster. A jury trial involving the claims against Magic Mountain had been scheduled to begin on 8 September before the agreement was reached.

What Happened to Christopher Hawley on the X2?

Hawley, a recent San Diego State University graduate, visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, with his younger brother Alex and their cousin on 23 June 2022.

Christopher sat alone, while Alex and their cousin were seated directly behind him.

According to the family's lawsuit, X2 was extremely rough and, as the riders approached the end, the coaster suddenly and violently jolted to a halt.

After leaving the ride, Christopher was seen walking unsteadily and holding onto a railing for support. He complained that his head hurt before collapsing, according to accounts from the family and their lawyers.

Lawsuit Alleged X2 Ride Caused Fatal Brain Injury

Christopher was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, where a CT scan revealed a catastrophic right subdural haematoma, according to the lawsuit.

He never regained consciousness and died the following day, 24 June 2022. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused by blunt head trauma sustained in a 'park ride accident'.

His parents maintained that Christopher had been in good health before riding X2.

William Hawley previously said the family wanted to ensure the attraction would not 'kill somebody else', while their lawyer said they were seeking accountability and hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

S&S Worldwide disputed responsibility. Its attorneys said in court filings that the X2 coaster trains operated as designed and argued that maintaining the attraction was Magic Mountain's responsibility.

Six Flags X2 Remains Closed After Separate Incident

The settlement comes as X2 remains closed following an unrelated incident this summer.

Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to Six Flags Magic Mountain on 5 July after receiving a report involving an unconscious person. The rider's condition was not independently confirmed by KTLA, and the sheriff's department did not launch an investigation.

California workplace safety regulators separately opened an inspection into the incident. Six Flags has said X2 has remained closed since the evening of 12 July.

What Is the X2 Roller Coaster?

X2 is a 'fourth-dimensional' roller coaster featuring seats that rotate independently as riders travel through drops and inversions.

The attraction runs along a 3,600-foot track and can reach speeds of up to 76mph (around 122kph). It originally debuted as X in 2002 before undergoing upgrades and reopening as X2 in 2008.