X2 Roller Coaster Under Scrutiny After Serious Brain Injuries and Two Reported Deaths

A famous roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California is facing renewed scrutiny after a series of serious incidents involving riders, including two women who suffered severe brain injuries following rides this summer.

The attraction, known as X2, has been a major draw for thrill-seekers for more than two decades. Its unusual design combines high-speed drops with seats that rotate independently of the track, creating a ride experience unlike conventional roller coasters.

But a recent CNN investigation has raised questions about the safety of the attraction after reviewing records involving more than a dozen riders who reportedly suffered serious injuries or required hospital treatment after riding X2. The investigation also examined two deaths that have been associated with incidents involving the ride.

A roller coaster built for extreme thrills

X2 is located at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles and is marketed by the park as an attraction for experienced thrill-seekers.

According to Six Flags, the ride features seats capable of rotating 360 degrees, while passengers experience steep drops, twists and unusual turns. The park describes it as a fifth-dimensional wing coaster. Its maximum speed is approximately 76 mph, with a drop of around 200 feet.

The ride originally opened in 2002 under the name X and was promoted as the world's first fourth-dimensional roller coaster. It later underwent major changes and returned as X2.

Unlike a traditional coaster, the X2 seats are positioned away from the track and can rotate during the ride. That movement, combined with rapid acceleration, braking, drops and changes in direction, produces significant forces on riders.

Six Flags' own safety guidance says riders must remain upright with their heads against the headrest throughout the experience.

Two women suffered severe brain injuries this summer

The latest concerns intensified in July 2026 after two women reportedly suffered serious brain injuries after riding X2 within days of each other.

According to CNN's investigation, Pamela Guillen visited the park to celebrate her daughter's 16th birthday. After riding X2, she became ill and was eventually taken to hospital, where doctors discovered a severe subdural haemorrhage and pressure on her brain.

Her condition was serious enough to require emergency neurosurgery. CNN reported that doctors removed part of her skull to relieve pressure caused by swelling.

Guillen later described the experience as a dramatic transformation from an ordinary day at a theme park to a medical emergency. She has reportedly faced continuing difficulties during her recovery.

Only several days later, another rider, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, also suffered a traumatic brain injury after riding X2. CNN reported that she collapsed after leaving the attraction and required emergency brain surgery. She remained critically ill, according to the report.

The close timing of the two incidents has increased scrutiny of the ride and its operating conditions.

Neurosurgeons questioned the forces involved

According to the investigation, three neurosurgeons involved in treating the two women concluded that the injuries were consistent with a rapid acceleration and deceleration event experienced while riding X2.

That assessment is significant because traumatic brain injuries can occur when the head and brain are subjected to sudden movement, even when there is no obvious external injury.

However, it is important to distinguish between medical opinions concerning individual cases and a definitive finding that the roller coaster is inherently unsafe. The reported medical assessments concern the injuries suffered by particular riders and the forces they experienced.

Six Flags has previously maintained in court filings that X2 is inspected regularly and that riders who follow the attraction's instructions should not experience traumatic brain injuries. CNN reported that Six Flags did not provide detailed answers to its questions about the latest investigation.

Two deaths have also been associated with X2

The concerns surrounding X2 extend beyond the latest hospitalisations.

CNN's investigation reported that more than a dozen people have suffered serious injuries or hospitalisations after riding the attraction. It also examined two deaths connected to riders.

One case involved Christopher Hawley, who died in 2022 after riding X2. According to the report, doctors found severe swelling of his brain. A medical examiner reportedly determined that blunt head trauma from a park ride accident contributed to his death.

A lawsuit brought by Hawley's family is expected to proceed to trial, with the family seeking damages.

Another death occurred in 2010, when 28-year-old Hilda Farias died after riding the attraction. The circumstances surrounding her death have been discussed in relation to a suspected brain abnormality.

These cases do not, by themselves, establish that the ride caused every medical condition or death associated with it. Individual medical histories and circumstances can be complex, and questions of legal responsibility can ultimately depend on evidence presented in court.

X2 remains closed following the latest incidents

Six Flags shut X2 in July following the two serious incidents involving Guillen and Greer-Wilkinson.

CNN reported that the attraction remained closed at the time of its investigation. Six Flags also confirmed that the ride was closed but did not provide detailed answers to the network's questions.

The closure puts the spotlight on California's system for regulating amusement rides.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA, oversees safety requirements for amusement rides in the state. Its Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit is responsible for inspecting and enforcing regulations covering permanent amusement rides.

California regulations also contain requirements concerning passenger restraints and areas of rides where passengers could be forcibly thrown against surfaces. The rules state that restraints must be designed, installed and maintained to safely support passengers when the forces generated by a ride require them.

The state's regulatory framework means that the investigation into X2 involves more than the ride operator. Regulators, safety inspectors, medical experts and potentially courts may all play roles in determining what happened and whether any changes are required.

What happens next?

The central question is whether the recent injuries represent an unusual cluster of medical emergencies or whether they point to a wider safety issue involving X2.

The answer may depend on detailed examination of the ride's design, operating procedures, maintenance records, inspection history and the circumstances of individual riders.

The attraction's unusual combination of high speed and independently rotating seats makes it fundamentally different from a conventional roller coaster. That does not automatically mean it is unsafe, but the severity and timing of the recent incidents have prompted legitimate questions about how the ride's forces affect passengers.

For now, X2 remains closed, while the reported injuries and previous cases continue to attract attention.

For theme-park visitors, the story is also a reminder that extreme rides carry inherent physical risks. Six Flags' published guidance requires riders to remain upright and keep their heads against the headrest during the experience. Riders should follow all posted restrictions and should not ride if they have been advised against exposure to intense acceleration, sudden stops or other forces.

The allegations and reported incidents surrounding X2 are serious, but they should not be interpreted as proof that every ride on the attraction is dangerous or that the coaster caused every medical event associated with it. Further investigation and, where applicable, court proceedings will be important in establishing the precise causes and responsibilities.

Sources

• CNN, investigation and broadcast report on X2 and the recent rider injuries, August 27, 2026.
• Six Flags Magic Mountain, official X2 attraction information and rider requirements.
• California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit.
• California Department of Industrial Relations, amusement ride safety regulations.

Disclaimer

This article is based on publicly available reports and official information available at the time of writing. Claims concerning injuries, deaths, medical causation and potential liability are reported allegations or findings from particular cases and should not be treated as a final determination of legal responsibility. The article does not provide medical or legal advice. Investigations and legal proceedings may produce additional information or different conclusions.