Lawsuits claim roller coaster caused brain damage

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One of the most recognizable roller coasters in Southern California is facing growing legal scrutiny after attorneys filed new lawsuits alleging that riders suffered serious brain injuries after riding the attraction.

Three lawsuits have been filed against Six Flags Magic Mountain over its X2 roller coaster, while attorneys representing the plaintiffs say more than 100 additional people have come forward claiming they suffered brain injuries after riding the attraction.

The allegations have not been proven in court, and Six Flags has said it does not comment on pending litigation.

More Than 100 Riders Have Reportedly Come Forward

According to the law firm representing the three plaintiffs, more than 100 additional clients have retained the firm and reported varying degrees of traumatic brain injuries they believe were connected to X2.

The attorneys say additional lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming weeks. They have also said that hundreds of other people contacted the firm but could not be taken on as clients for various reasons, including filing deadlines or a lack of medical documentation.

The claims involve injuries allegedly suffered over recent years, although the attorneys' current cases focus heavily on incidents from 2026.

Two Riders Were Hospitalized Days Apart

Among the cases drawing attention are those of Pamela Guillen and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson.

Guillen visited Magic Mountain on July 5 for her daughter's 16th birthday. According to her lawsuit, she became confused and disoriented after riding X2 and was eventually hospitalized, where she underwent emergency surgery for brain bleeding.

Six days later, Greer-Wilkinson rode the same attraction. Her parents say she suffered a catastrophic brain injury and remains hospitalized, with her family describing an ongoing effort to help her recover.

A third plaintiff, a Los Angeles attorney, also alleges that riding X2 resulted in serious brain injuries and multiple surgeries, according to reporting on the newly filed cases.

What Makes X2 Different?

X2 is not a typical roller coaster.

The attraction, originally opened as X in 2002, was redesigned and reopened as X2 in 2008. Its seats rotate independently as the train travels along the track, creating movements that are different from conventional coasters.

The ride reaches speeds of approximately 76 mph and features drops and turns designed to produce intense acceleration and changes in direction.

The lawsuits argue that aspects of the ride's design and operation can expose riders to dangerous forces.

The plaintiffs' attorneys say medical and engineering experts have provided information supporting their claims about how the ride allegedly caused the reported injuries. Those claims will ultimately be subject to examination through the legal process.

X2 Has Been Closed Since July

X2 has been closed since July 12, according to multiple reports, while California officials investigate two recent incidents involving riders.

The state's Cal/OSHA Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit is involved in the review. As of the latest reports, authorities had not publicly released findings establishing that the ride caused the injuries alleged in the lawsuits or announced a reopening date.

That means there is currently no official determination that X2 is responsible for the injuries described in the lawsuits.

Previous Incidents Add to the Scrutiny

The new lawsuits also point to X2's history.

Attorneys representing the current plaintiffs say the attraction has previously been the subject of lawsuits involving serious injuries. One widely reported case involved 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who died after riding X2 in 2022. His family subsequently sued the park.

The existence of previous lawsuits does not establish that the ride caused the injuries in the new cases, but plaintiffs' attorneys argue that the history raises questions about whether potential risks were adequately addressed.

Six Flags Has Not Commented on the Claims

Six Flags has declined to discuss the pending lawsuits.

The company has confirmed that X2 remains closed, but the park has not publicly accepted the allegations that its ride caused the reported brain injuries.

As more lawsuits are expected to be filed, the cases could bring additional medical records, engineering evidence and information about the ride's operating history into the public record.

For now, the allegations remain allegations, and no court has determined that Six Flags or the ride's manufacturer is legally responsible for the reported injuries.

Source: ABC News