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X2 Rollercoaster Linked to Deaths, Brain Injuries
28 Aug
Summary
- The X2 rollercoaster has been linked to two deaths and over a dozen serious injuries.
- Two women suffered severe brain hemorrhages after riding the X2 this past July.
- A lawsuit is pending from a family whose son died after riding the attraction in June 2022.
The X2 rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California has been associated with a troubling history of severe injuries and fatalities. Investigations reveal the ride has been linked to two deaths and more than a dozen hospitalizations.
Recent events in July 2026 saw two riders, Pamela Guillen and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, sustain catastrophic brain injuries. Guillen experienced a severe subdural hematoma and brain compression, while Greer-Wilkinson suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her in a coma. Neurosurgeons involved in their treatment indicated that rapid acceleration-deceleration events on the X2 ride likely caused these severe injuries.
Beyond these recent incidents, the X2 has been linked to previous fatalities. Christopher Hawley died in June 2022 following a ride, with medical examiners attributing his death to blunt head trauma from a park ride accident. In 2010, Hilda Farias also died after riding the attraction, with experts suspecting a ruptured brain abnormality. The ride was shut down on July 12, 2026, following the injuries sustained by Greer-Wilkinson, and Six Flags has confirmed it remains closed.
A jury trial is scheduled for September 2026 regarding the Hawley family's lawsuit seeking compensatory damages. The ride's manufacturer, Arrow Dynamics, declared bankruptcy over two decades ago. California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which oversees amusement park rides, has been contacted for comment.
