California Roller Coaster Permanently Closed After Over 100 Riders Claim 'Catastrophic' Brain Damage

Six Flags Magic Mountain has permanently shut down its X2 roller coaster after a series of lawsuits alleged that riders suffered serious traumatic brain injuries on the attraction.

The California theme park announced the decision on Tuesday, 29 September, after X2 had remained closed since July following two serious medical incidents involving riders.

'After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,' Six Flags Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding said in a statement.

'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. Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business.'

X2 opened at the Valencia, California, park in 2008 and became one of its signature attractions. Six Flags said more than 16 million people had ridden it during its run.

The ride was known for its unusual four-dimension design, with seats capable of rotating independently through 360 degrees as the train travelled along the track. It could reach speeds of about 76mph (122km/h), combining steep drops, rapid changes in direction and rotating passenger seats.

Two July Incidents Triggered Scrutiny

The permanent closure follows two serious incidents reported in July. Pamela Guillen suffered a severe subdural haematoma and brain compression after riding X2 on 5 July, according to her family's account. She required emergency surgery in which doctors removed part of her skull.

Less than a week later, 25-year-old Los Angeles resident Naomi Greer-Wilkinson reportedly lost consciousness after riding the coaster and required emergency brain surgery. Her family said she remained in a coma for weeks and has continued to require extensive medical support.

Three lawsuits have subsequently been filed against Six Flags and ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide. The claims allege that X2's design and operation exposed passengers to dangerous forces capable of causing traumatic brain injuries. Six Flags has not commented in detail on the pending litigation.

Attorneys representing Greer-Wilkinson said they had also been contacted by more than 100 people who claimed they were injured after riding X2.

'The design of this ride makes it inherently dangerous, and makes it dangerous in a way that no reasonable rider would expect,' attorney Christopher Bulone said.

Those allegations have not been established in court. The park has maintained that X2 repeatedly passed safety tests and inspections.

Ride Had Previous Injury History

The latest cases are not the first serious incidents associated with X2. In 2022, 22-year-old Christopher Hawley suffered a fatal brain injury after riding the coaster. His family's wrongful-death lawsuit was settled in 2026, shortly before a trial was due to begin. The settlement did not establish liability.

Other lawsuits have also alleged serious injuries connected to the ride, including a case involving a woman who claimed she suffered a traumatic brain injury after riding X2 in 2020. A separate trial has been scheduled for 2027.

Despite the legal claims, Six Flags has not said that X2 was found to be structurally unsafe. Instead, Oerding said declining guest confidence was a major consideration in the decision to retire the attraction.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the ride, according to reports. Meanwhile, the lawsuits against Six Flags and S&S Worldwide are expected to continue despite the coaster's permanent closure.