Full Breakdown
Lawsuit Alleges Defective Design After College Graduate’s Death on Six Flags X2 Roller Coaster
8/24/2026, 6:10:32 AM
Fatal Incident on X2
In the summer of 2022, Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate, rode the X2 attraction at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles County. He was taken to a nearby hospital and died the following day. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death an accident caused by blunt-force head trauma sustained on the ride.
Lawsuit Allegations
Hawley’s family has filed a civil suit claiming the X2 design is defective and that Six Flags, the coaster’s manufacturer, and park employees failed to adequately warn riders of the attraction’s risks. The complaint cites the ride’s “exceptionally rough” motion, which the family says caused forces comparable to shaken-baby syndrome, a condition in which violent jolts cause the brain to move within the skull.
Official Responses
Six Flags declined to comment directly on the litigation. “The ride remains closed at this time. It has been closed since the evening of July 12th,” — Six Flags. The park also noted that the attraction was shut after a separate incident on July 5, 2026, when a rider was found unconscious, prompting a closure that lasted more than a month.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was very rough. It just jerked us. It just jerked us all around,” — Alex Hawley, brother of Christopher Hawley “It was very rough. It just jerked us. It just jerked us all around,” — Alex.
What’s Next
A jury trial involving Six Flags, the coaster’s manufacturer, and park employees is scheduled to begin in September. The outcome will determine whether the court finds the ride’s design or the park’s warnings legally insufficient.
