Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 roller coaster — one of the park’s signature attractions, known for seats that rotate independently as the train hits speeds of up to 76 mph — has come under intense scrutiny after two riders suffered life-threatening brain injuries within days of each other in July 2026, and after the settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit tied to a rider’s 2022 death.
Dordick Law Corporation is currently representing two of the injured riders, and our firm is closely tracking this litigation. If you or someone you love was hurt after riding X2, we want to hear from you. Call us at (310) 551-0949 or contact us online.
Multiple X2 Riders Suffered Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Summer of 2026
On July 5, 2026, Pamela Guillen was riding X2 to celebrate her daughter’s 16th birthday when she began repeatedly striking her head against the ride’s headrest. After the train returned to the station, she needed help exiting her seat, began vomiting, and lost consciousness. She was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, where a CT scan revealed a severe subdural hematoma and brain compression. She underwent emergency surgery that required surgeons to remove part of her skull, and did not regain consciousness for two weeks.
Six days later, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson lost consciousness shortly after riding the same coaster. She was taken to the same hospital and underwent emergency brain surgery. According to her family, she remained in critical condition and in a coma in the days that followed.
Doctors who treated both women reportedly attributed their injuries to a rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced on the ride. X2 has been closed since shortly after the second incident, and California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has opened an investigation into the ride.
Learn more from CNN’s coverage: Riders rushed into emergency brain surgery after braving this world-famous Six Flags rollercoaster.
A Rider’s Death in 2022
The recent injuries have drawn renewed attention to the 2022 death of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate. Hawley rode X2 in June 2022 and began having trouble walking and complaining of a headache shortly after exiting the ride. He lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found a catastrophic subdural hematoma. He died the next day. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused by blunt head trauma sustained in a “park ride accident.”
Hawley’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain and S&S Worldwide, the company that supplied replacement trains for the ride, alleging negligence, design defects, and a failure to warn riders of the dangers the coaster posed. In August 2026, with trial just weeks away, Six Flags and S&S Worldwide reached confidential settlements with the Hawley family. Both companies have denied liability, and the settlement did not include any finding that X2 was defective or that the companies caused Hawley’s death.
A History of Safety Concerns
Lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries connected to X2 date back years and allege that the ride has been linked to more than a dozen serious injuries and hospitalizations over nearly two decades — including Hawley’s death. A separate lawsuit over another serious injury on the ride is currently scheduled for trial in August 2027, and a California appeals court recently reinstated S&S Worldwide as a defendant in that case after finding that questions remain about whether the ride’s design contributed to the injuries at issue.
Six Flags has disputed that X2 poses the dangers alleged in these cases. In court filings, the company has said the ride undergoes daily inspections and that a rider using the coaster “as instructed” would not suffer a traumatic brain injury.
Why Choose Dordick Law Corporation for Your X2 Injury Case
Dordick Law Corporation‘s experienced attorneys, including Christopher Bulone, represent both Pamela Guillen and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson. Mr. Bulone has extensive experience litigating traumatic brain injury cases, including some of the largest brain injury verdicts in California and Arizona history. Our firm’s track record includes a $7.6 million jury verdict in a traumatic brain injury case arising from an incident at a different Southern California theme park (Universal Studios). Our firm is actively investigating X2’s safety history and the circumstances behind these injuries. Consultations are free, and there is no cost to hire our firm unless a case results in a recovery.
Disclaimer: The outcome of each legal case depends on many factors, and Dordick Law Corporation cannot guarantee a positive result or specific outcome in any new matter.
For step-by-step guidance on what to do right after an injury on X2, including preserving evidence and speaking with medical providers, see “Six Flags Magic Mountain X2 and Reported Brain Injuries: What Riders Should Know.”
Who Can Be Held Liable for an X2 Accident?
More than one party can share responsibility for an injury on X2. Six Flags Magic Mountain, as the park’s operator, has a duty to properly inspect, maintain, and operate the ride. S&S Worldwide, the company that has supplied trains for X2, can also bear responsibility if a design or manufacturing issue contributed to an injury, as alleged in the Hawley family’s wrongful death lawsuit. Companies hired to maintain or inspect the ride may be responsible as well. Because more than one party can be involved, identifying everyone connected to an accident is part of building a case.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
California law allows people injured by another party’s negligence to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, along with lost income and any reduced ability to earn a living going forward. Pain and suffering and the loss of ability to enjoy daily life are also part of what a claim can address, particularly with an injury as serious as a traumatic brain injury, which can require years of therapy and ongoing care. In cases where a rider died from their injuries, as with Christopher Hawley in 2022, surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of their loved one’s companionship. When a company’s conduct shows disregard for a known safety risk, punitive damages may also be available.
California Statute of Limitations for This Type of Claim
California law generally gives injury victims two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and family members in a wrongful death case generally have two years from the date of death. Certain circumstances, such as the injured person being a minor, can change these deadlines. Beyond the legal deadline, evidence in an amusement park case can also become harder to obtain with time. Ride components can be repaired or replaced, as happened with the trains involved in the Hawley litigation, and inspection records are not kept indefinitely. Speaking with an attorney early preserves more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to hire Dordick Law Corporation?
Dordick Law Corporation handles X2 and other Six Flags injury cases on a contingency basis. This means there is no upfront cost, and our firm is only paid a portion of the settlement or verdict if the case is successful. Consultations are free.
What if I was injured on a different Six Flags ride, not X2?
Our firm’s review is not limited to X2. Six Flags Magic Mountain and other Southern California parks have faced injury claims involving other rides and attractions over the years, and our team can review the facts of an injury that happened anywhere in the park.
Do I need a lawyer, or can I just settle directly with Six Flags' insurance?
Hiring a lawyer is not required, but the adjuster handling a claim works on behalf of Six Flags’ insurer, not the injured person. Early settlement offers are often made before the full extent of an injury, particularly a brain injury, is known, and accepting one can end a person’s ability to seek further compensation later. Speaking with an attorney before signing anything or accepting an offer does not cost anything and keeps options open.
Do I Still Have a Case If I Signed a Waiver?
Six Flags asks guests to agree to terms that attempt to limit the park’s liability for injuries. In most cases, this type of waiver does not protect a company from claims involving gross negligence, a known and undisclosed danger, or a defective product. California courts have declined to enforce broad liability waivers where a company failed to properly maintain or inspect its equipment. Given the safety concerns Six Flags has faced with X2 for nearly two decades, a waiver signed at the ticket counter does not necessarily prevent a claim tied to what the company already knew about the ride.
If You or a Loved One Was Injured on X2
If you or someone you love suffered a head injury, loss of consciousness, or other serious harm after riding X2 — or any other amusement park attraction — you may have legal options. Amusement park operators and ride manufacturers have a duty to design, inspect, and maintain their attractions so they are reasonably safe for the public. When that duty is breached, victims and their families can be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Dordick Law Corporation has offices throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Riverside, and can help with brain injury cases like this one. Consultations are free and no-obligation, and our team can help you understand your rights and what to do next.
Call (310) 551-0949 or contact us online to speak with our team today.
