Full Breakdown
X2 Roller Coaster Retired Amid Growing Brain-Injury Lawsuits
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Six Flags Magic Mountain announced on September 29 2026 that it is permanently retiring the X2 roller coaster. The ride had been shut down since the evening of July 12 2026 after two women were hospitalized with severe brain injuries. Park president Brian Oerding said the decision reflects “guest confidence” and the park’s safety priorities.
Background & Context
X2 debuted as X in 2002, was redesigned and reopened as X2 in 2008 with 360-degree rotating seats, a top speed of 76 mph, and a 3,610-ft track. The coaster attracted more than 16 million riders after 2008. Prior incidents include the 2022 death of Christopher Hawley and the 2010 death of Hilda Farias. An August 27 2026 CNN investigation found at least 70 head-or-neck complaints and over a dozen serious injuries spanning two decades.
Data & Statistics
- Rider count: >16 million since 2008 (Six Flags).
- Lawsuits: Over 100 plaintiffs have filed claims alleging traumatic brain injury in the past two years (Dordick Law Corp.).
- July 5 2026: Pamela Guillen, 40, suffered a subdural hematoma, required emergency skull surgery and spent weeks in a coma.
- July 11 2026: Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, lost consciousness, remains ventilator-dependent and unable to speak.
- September 2026: Three new lawsuits were filed; the firm reports contact from roughly 400 additional claimants.
Official Statements & Responses
Six Flags said the ride met industry safety standards and that the closure is a proactive response to public concern. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health opened an investigation after the July incidents; the probe remains ongoing.
Criticism & Opposition
Plaintiffs’ attorneys argue Six Flags had ample notice of the ride’s risks and failed to warn guests. Gary Dordick said the decision “comes too late” and that Six Flags must “take responsibility for them.” Families of deceased riders have called for earlier action and stronger regulatory oversight, describing the coaster as “dangerous.”
On-the-Ground Reports
- Pamela Guillen: After riding on July 5 2026, she experienced a severe subdural hematoma, required emergency neurosurgery and spent two weeks in a coma before rehabilitation. She recalled, “Everything went blank. My next memory is waking up in the hospital about two weeks later.”
- Naomi Greer-Wilkinson: On July 11 2026, she lost consciousness, underwent emergency brain surgery and remains unable to breathe independently, with her parents saying she “still hasn't come home.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of individuals contacted by the law firm—some cite “more than 100” plaintiffs, others “around 400” contacts. The exact number of filed lawsuits versus inquiries remains unclear. Settlement terms for the 2022 Hawley wrongful-death case have not been disclosed, and no court has ruled on liability for the newer claims.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Closing the ride protects future guests, and we welcome that. But it does nothing for the people who have already been hurt,” — Gary A. Dordick, attorney
- “Everything went blank. My next memory is waking up in the hospital about two weeks later,” — Pamela Guillen
- “Since X2 opened in 2008, it has welcomed more than 16 million guests and earned a passionate following among ride enthusiasts,” — Brian Oerding, park president
What’s Next
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigation continues, with no announced deadline. Dordick Law Corp. expects to file additional lawsuits in the coming weeks, indicating that legal action will persist despite the ride’s closure.