Home / Disasters and Accidents / X2 Roller Coaster Linked to Two Critical Brain Surgeries
X2 Roller Coaster Linked to Two Critical Brain Surgeries
27 Aug
Summary
- Two women needed emergency brain surgery after riding the X2 coaster.
- The X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain has been closed.
- At least 14 serious injury reports are linked to X2 over two decades.
Two women underwent emergency brain surgery within a six-day span following rides on Six Flags Magic Mountain's X2 roller coaster, intensifying scrutiny over the attraction's safety. The X2 has remained closed since July 12, with Six Flags offering no specific reason for the shutdown.
California officials are currently inspecting the ride, but the completion date for the inspection and potential reopening remain undetermined. The X2, known for its 360-degree rotating seats and speeds nearing 80 mph, has been associated with over a dozen serious injury and hospitalization reports spanning nearly twenty years.
Previous incidents linked to the X2 include permanent disabilities and comas. Two fatalities have occurred, one in 2010 and another in 2022. While severe brain injuries from roller coasters are generally rare, neurosurgeons believe the rapid acceleration and deceleration on X2 caused the recent injuries. In June 2022, 22-year-old Christopher Hawley died less than 10 hours after riding X2, suffering severe internal bleeding and brain swelling.
