What happened
X2, a high-speed steel roller coaster known for its 360-degree spinning trains, has operated at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California since 2002. In July 2026, the ride was linked to two separate incidents in which riders suffered severe brain injuries within a six-day period — prompting an active state safety investigation and the ride's continued closure.
The ride has been closed since July 12, 2026 and California's Cal/OSHA Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit has an active inspection underway. No public findings have been released as of the most recent reporting (late August 2026).
Timeline of events
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July 5, 2026
Los Angeles County Fire Department responds to an unconscious rider on X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
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July 12, 2026
X2 is closed to the public. The ride remains closed as of the most recent reporting.
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Mid-July 2026
Two additional riders — Pamela Guillen and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson — are reported to have suffered severe subdural hematomas (bleeding on the brain) on X2, both requiring emergency brain surgery, within a six-day span.
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August 14, 2026
The Los Angeles Times reports X2 has now been closed for over a month while Cal/OSHA's Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit investigates.
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August 27, 2026
CNN and Techtimes report the details of the two July brain-injury incidents, connecting them to Magic Mountain's prior fatal incident history on the same ride.
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August 2026
The family of Christopher Hawley — a 22-year-old San Diego State graduate who died in 2022 from a brain injury sustained on X2 — settles their wrongful death lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain and ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide, days before a scheduled Los Angeles County jury trial set for September 2026.
The 2022 Hawley case
Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate, died after riding X2 in June 2022. His family alleged the ride's design caused fatal brain trauma and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain LLC and S&S Worldwide, the ride's manufacturer. The case was scheduled for a jury trial in Los Angeles County in September 2026, but both defendants reached confidential settlements with the Hawley family in August 2026, ending the case before trial.
What this means if you were injured
An active government safety investigation and a settled wrongful death case involving the same ride are significant developments for anyone who was injured on X2 — or on a similar high-speed coaster at any Six Flags property. If you or a family member suffered a brain injury, spinal injury, or other serious harm at Six Flags Magic Mountain or another theme park, an attorney experienced in theme park injury claims can evaluate whether you have grounds for a claim, generally at no cost to you unless you recover compensation.
Sources
- TechTimes, "Six Flags X2 Linked to Two Deaths and Two Brain Surgeries in Six Days, Records Show" (Aug 27, 2026) — techtimes.com/articles/325760
- Los Angeles Times, "Extreme Six Flags roller coaster has been closed for over a month while state officials investigate" (Aug 14, 2026) — latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-14
- KTLA, "Magic Mountain, ride manufacturer reach settlement in X2 roller coaster death lawsuit" — ktla.com/news/local-news/six-flags-x2-lawsuit-settlement
- KTLA, "Groundbreaking Six Flags coaster closed after incident with rider" — ktla.com/news/california/magic-mountain-x2-closed-rider-incident
- Signal SCV, "Six Flags, family to settle X2 lawsuit" (Sep 2026) — signalscv.com/2026/09/six-flags-family-to-settle-x2-lawsuit
- Times of San Diego, "Family of SDSU grad who died from rollercoaster injury settles lawsuit" (Aug 28, 2026) — timesofsandiego.com
Frequently asked questions
Is the X2 roller coaster still closed?
As of the most recent reporting (late August 2026), yes — X2 has been closed since July 12, 2026 while Cal/OSHA conducts its investigation, with no public findings released yet.
What injuries were reported in July 2026?
Two riders reportedly suffered severe subdural hematomas — bleeding on the brain — requiring emergency brain surgery, within a six-day span.
Was there a previous death connected to this ride?
Yes. Christopher Hawley died in 2022 after a brain injury sustained on X2. His family's wrongful death case against Six Flags and the ride's manufacturer settled in August 2026, before trial.
What should I do if I was injured on X2 or another Six Flags ride?
Seek medical care and document your injuries. Then speak with an attorney promptly — evidence and witness memory fade quickly, and most states have strict filing deadlines for injury claims.
This page reports publicly available news coverage for informational purposes and is not legal advice. Facts are attributed to the named outlets above and may be updated as the Cal/OSHA investigation proceeds. RollerCoasterInjury.com is an attorney-advertising and lead-generation site, not a law firm.