Three lawsuits alleging catastrophic brain injuries after rides on the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain have been filed in Southern California, with lawyers saying more than 100 further claims may follow.
Dordick Law Corporation announced the cases at a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 22. The firm said more than 300 people had contacted it with complaints linked to the attraction, although it had not been able to accept every case.
The claims centre on riders who say they suffered serious symptoms after using the coaster at the Valencia theme park. The allegations have not been tested in court.
Families describe injuries after X2 rides
Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, is among those represented by the law firm. Her parents say she began stumbling immediately after leaving the ride in July, before collapsing. They say she suffered severe brain trauma and remains in hospital.
“We just keep praying and keep putting one foot in front of the other, what else can we do, but it shouldn’t be this way,” her parents told local television station FOX 11.
Another claimant, Pamela Guillen, told Tuesday’s press conference that she regained consciousness weeks after undergoing emergency brain surgery.
According to information released by the firm, Ms Guillen was riding X2 on July 5 to celebrate her daughter’s 16th birthday. She was later diagnosed with a severe subdural haematoma and underwent surgery that involved the removal of part of her skull.
The firm said Ms Greer-Wilkinson was taken to hospital six days later after losing consciousness following her ride. It alleges that both women’s injuries were linked to the rapid acceleration and deceleration experienced on the coaster.
Attorney Christopher Bulone alleged that the design of X2 exposes riders to greater forces than earlier attractions. Gary Dordick, another lawyer representing the claimants, said the park had known about the alleged dangers for years.
Six Flags Magic Mountain has declined to comment on the new claims, citing its policy of not discussing pending litigation.
Ride remains closed amid investigation
X2 has been closed since the evening of July 12. California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, is conducting an independent safety investigation into an incident at the attraction earlier this summer.
The closure follows a separate legal case involving Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate who died in 2022 after sustaining a brain injury following a ride on X2.
Mr Hawley’s family recently reached a confidential settlement with Six Flags Magic Mountain and S&S Worldwide, which supplied replacement trains for the coaster. The agreement ended the wrongful-death case without a court finding that the ride was defective or that either company caused his death.
The latest lawsuits accuse the attraction’s design and operation of contributing to the alleged injuries. Six Flags and other parties will have the opportunity to respond as the cases proceed.
