Six Flags Magic Mountain said Tuesday that the amusement park has decided to “permanently retire” its X2 rollercoaster amid lawsuits alleging serious brain injury caused by the ride.
asserted
park → say → ride
In a statement, Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President Brian Oerding said, “Since X2 opened in 2008, it has welcomed more than 16 million guests and earned a passionate following among ride enthusiasts.
asserted
it → say → enthusiasts
We recognize the special place X2 holds in the coaster community, and we are grateful to our team members who operated and maintained it throughout its run.”
asserted
who → recognize → run
“While X2 consistently passed a multitude of safety tests, we have decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do.
asserted
it → pass → ride
Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously,” Oerding explained.
asserted
Oerding → see → it
Oerding said that the amusement park’s purpose is to “create fun, thrills and a lifetime of memories by creating unforgettable experiences that are underpinned by comprehensive safety policies.”
asserted
that → say → policies
The southern California theme park recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding the coaster in 2022, and three more lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries were filed last week.
asserted
lawsuits → settle → injuries
The ride has been closed since July 12, after two women who rode the roller coaster less than a week apart both needed to be rushed to the hospital after they exited.
asserted
they → close → hospital
One of the riders, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, collapsed shortly after the ride ended and was found to have massive brain bleeding inside her skull that required emergency brain surgery, according to a lawsuit filed by her family against Six Flags.
uncertain
that → collapse → Flags
Greer-Wilkinson “remains bedridden, ventilator dependent, unable to speak, unable to voluntarily move her extremities, and in a minimally conscious state.
asserted
Wilkinson → remain → state
She has shown limited neurological improvement, including some ability to open her eyes,” according to the lawsuit, viewed and obtained by Global News.
uncertain
She → show → News
Her lawyers said more than 100 people have claimed they got brain injuries from the roller coaster in the past two years and that the closure of X2 would not keep them from continuing to file lawsuits.
asserted
closure → say → lawsuits
Lawyer Gary Dordick is also representing 39-year-old Pamela Guillen, who visited Six Flags Magic Mountain with her 16-year-old daughter Camille Marquez in July.
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who → represent → July
According to the lawsuit, viewed and obtained by Global News, Marquez noticed her mother was “sitting with a vacant stare and her mouth open” once X2 returned to the station.
uncertain
X2 → accord → station
“Camille initially thought Pamela was joking.
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Pamela → think → ?
She quickly realized that something was seriously wrong.
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something → realize → ?
Pamela attempted to leave the ride but was confused and unstable on her feet.
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Pamela → attempt → feet
She stumbled after exiting X2 and shortly thereafter collapsed,” the lawsuit says.
asserted
lawsuit → stumble → X2
Guillen was transported to the hospital, “where imaging revealed a massive intracranial hemorrhage and life-threatening traumatic brain injury,” according to the lawsuit.
uncertain
imaging → transport → lawsuit
“Emergency neurosurgical intervention was required.
asserted
intervention → require → ?
Pamela has undergone multiple brain surgeries, including craniotomy procedures, as a result of the injuries she sustained after riding X2,” the lawsuit says.
asserted
lawsuit → undergo → X2
“Pamela’s treating physicians and surgeons have concluded that her brain trauma was caused by the forces imposed upon her while riding X2.”
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trauma → treat → X2
In a third lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain, Michael Wilk alleges that while riding the X2 in February, his “head began slamming violently against the headrest of his seat.”
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head → allege → seat
“Immediately upon exiting the ride, Michael felt ill, with stabbing pain in his head, dizziness, and had difficulty walking.”
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Michael → exit → difficulty
Wilk believed that his symptoms would resolve on their own at the time and returned to work the following Monday.
“In the weeks that followed, Michael’s law partners, associates, and even opposing counsel separately observed a continuing decline in his cognitive function and became alarmed, urging him to seek medical care.
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partners → believe → care
As a result, Michael went to see his primary care physician on May 12, 2026.
uncertain
Michael → go → May
Following his appointment, Michael was ordered to obtain and did undergo a brain MRI on June 4, 2026,” the lawsuit says.
asserted
lawsuit → follow → June
According to the lawsuit, Wilk’s MRI revealed “massive intracranial bleeding, swelling, and midline shift of the brain.”
uncertain
MRI → accord → brain
Wilk’s imaging indicated “that a substantial portion of bleeding had been present for months, consistent with an injury dating back to Michael’s February 7, 2026 ride on X2,” the lawsuit adds.
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lawsuit → indicate → X2
Global News has reached out to Six Flags Magic Mountain for further comment on the lawsuits, but has not received a response.
asserted
News → reach → response
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health opened an investigation into the ride after the July incidents and said it remains ongoing.
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it → open → incidents
According to the Six Flags Magic Mountain website, the X2 roller coaster reaches a top speed of 76 mph (122 km/h) and has a total length of 3,610 feet.
uncertain
coaster → accord → feet
The seats rotate 360 degrees “so your body will be flipping around the entire time,” and the ride features two “raven turns”— half loops that turn into sheer drops midway.
asserted
that → rotate → drops
The park recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Christopher Hawley, a 22-year-old who died the day after he rode X2.
asserted
he → settle → X2
“As X2 approached its conclusion, the ride suddenly, abruptly, and violently jolted to a halt, jarring Decedent Christopher Hawley and the other two boys in their seats,” the lawsuit stated.
asserted
lawsuit → approach → seats
According to the lawsuit, Hawley “exited the ride and started walking haltingly down the off-ramp, holding onto the handrail for support.
uncertain
Hawley → accord → support
His cousin and brother noticed him walking slowly and holding onto the rail and came to his assistance.
asserted
him → notice → assistance
At some point, Decedent Christopher Hawley mumbled to his younger brother and cousin that his head hurt.”
asserted
head → mumble → brother
“After his cousin and brother came to his assistance, Decedent Christopher Hawley knelt down, and slumped onto his side.
asserted
Hawley → come → side
His cousin supported him down to the ground, placing one hand on his back and one hand on his head.
asserted
cousin → support → head
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
