Quick Answer
Three people have filed separate lawsuits alleging they suffered serious brain injuries after riding X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. Their lawyers say more than 100 additional riders have retained the firm. The symptoms include brain hemhorraging, loss of cognitive abilities and a coma. X2 has been closed since the evening of July 12, 2026.
On July 5, Pamela Guillen rode X2 with her daughter to celebrate the girl’s 16th birthday. According to a lawsuit she later filed, Guillen was confused when the train returned to the station, struggled to walk and collapsed shortly after getting off. She underwent emergency brain surgery.
Six days later, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson rode the same coaster with her siblings. Her family’s complaint says she also became confused, stumbled after the ride and lost consciousness. The 25-year-old underwent multiple emergency brain surgeries and remained hospitalized when the lawsuit was filed.
This timing is critical. Our previous story on Glenwood Caverns, another amusement park, explained that the operating company had prior knowledge of the ride’s defects, which is why the main plaintiff was awarded over $300 million. This fact is central to any premesis liability case. Greer-Wilkinson’s family alleges Six Flags knew what had happened to Guillen but continued running X2 without adequately investigating that injury or warning the next riders. The lawsuits ask whether earlier reports of serious injuries should have changed how the park operated the coaster.
What do the three X2 lawsuits allege exactly?
The exact complaints include:
- Strict Product Liability – Design Defect
- Strict Product Liability – Failure to Warn
- Negligent Product Design
- Negligent Failure to Warn
- Negligence / Common Carrier Liability
- Premises Liability
- Fraudulent Concealment
- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
Most of these complaints come down to roughly the same thing: the X2 presented dangers that were unknown to the alleged victims, and that the park had conceivable knowledge of the victims’ injuries, but refused to shut down or rework the ride.
The law firm representing the riders announced three individual complaints on Sept. 22. In addition to Guillen and Greer-Wilkinson, plaintiff Michael Walk alleges he felt a stabbing pain in his head, dizziness and difficulty walking after riding X2 on Feb. 7. His complaint says his condition worsened over the following months; a June MRI showed bleeding and swelling in his brain, and he underwent two craniotomies. He says he can no longer practice law.
The three complaints allege that forces on the ride injured the riders and that the park failed to respond adequately to known risks. Six Flags describes X2 as a coaster with seats that rotate 360 degrees, head-first drops, flips and two “raven turns.” Its own description promises sensory overload. It does not promise life-changing brain injuries, and no rider would expect it to do so.
What earlier warnings do the riders cite?
The complaints point to a 2020 brain injury claim and the death of Christopher Hawley, 22, who collapsed after riding X2 in June 2022 and died the next day. His family brought a wrongful death case against Six Flags. The Associated Press reported that the case was settled this year, but has not yet reported no these new complaints.
Guillen’s complaint says she collapsed after exiting X2 on July 5, and Greer-Wilkinson’s complaint alleges the park had direct notice of that event before she boarded on July 11 and did not adequately warn riders or suspend operations while it examined the cause.
Evidence about what the park knew, when it learned it and what it did next will matter in these lawsuits. The AP also reported that, after Hawley’s death, state officials reviewed ride-force data supplied by Six Flags and allowed X2 to reopen. That earlier review and the riders’ current allegations are both part of the history the cases will have to address.
Is the X2 lawsuit a class action?
Based on the complaints made public so far, no. The three riders filed separate personal injury lawsuits. The law firm says it has been retained by more than 100 additional people who report brain injuries after riding X2 and expects to file more cases.
Each rider’s medical history, date of injury, symptoms and evidence of what happened on the ride may differ. The lawsuits could share evidence about X2’s operation and the park’s knowledge even while each rider pursues an individual claim.
Is X2 still closed?
A park spokesperson told ABC7 Los Angeles on Sept. 23 that X2 remained closed and had been closed since the evening of July 12. Six Flags said it does not comment on pending litigation. The park’s scheduled ride closures page also lists X2.
Its closure does not resolve the lawsuits or establish why the injuries occurred. For the families, the immediate question is what happened during each ride and whether the park ever acted on information it already had.
What does the case mean for Texas amusement park riders?
The X2 claims were filed in California and will be decided under the facts and law that apply there. For Texas readers, the recurring issue is familiar: What did the people responsible for a ride know before another person was hurt?
Our previous coverage of the Livingston carnival ride injuries examined reports of earlier mechanical problems. We also covered the Glenwood Caverns wrongful death verdict, where warnings about restraint procedures became part of the case against the park. Those events involved different rides and hazards, but together show why incident reports, maintenance records, staff instructions and responses to earlier warnings are legally relevant after a serious injury.
Moreover, as our guide to waivers in Texas explains, the effect of a release depends on its wording and the conduct at issue. Waivers are not universally enforceable.
If someone leaves a ride with a worsening headache, confusion, unusual behavior or trouble walking, seek urgent medical care. The CDC lists worsening headache and increased confusion among brain injury danger signs. Report what happened to park staff and keep tickets, photos, witness information and medical records.
X2 lawsuit FAQs
Have more than 100 riders sued Six Flags over X2?
Not according to the filings announced Sept. 22. The law firm said it filed three lawsuits and was retained by more than 100 additional people. It expects further filings.
Did the earlier X2 wrongful death case go to trial?
No. The Associated Press reported that the lawsuit brought by Christopher Hawley’s family was settled. The public report did not provide settlement terms.
Does the X2 lawsuit apply to a ride injury in Texas?
No. The X2 complaints concern injuries alleged at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. A Texas ride injury would require its own investigation under the applicable Texas law and the facts of that incident.
Talk to an amusement ride injury attorney in Houston
Amusement parts are meant to be a distraction, and to build memories that can last a lifetime. But they can be dangerous. Amusement part operators have a higher degree of obligation to protect their customers from harm than other businesses. Unfortunately, the common pattern for many parks appears to be that customers receive an injury, report those injuries, then the park simply moves on without changing their policies or addressing the underlying issue.
If you or a family member suffered a serious injury at a Texas carnival, amusement park or public event, the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian can review the incident and the steps the operator took before and after it. Hilda Sibrian serves the Houston metropolitan area, including Sugar Land, Missouri City, La Porte, Beaumont, Pasadena, The Woodlands, The Heights, Bellaire, Kingwood, Baytown and of course Houston proper.
Consultations are quick, confidential, and always free. Contact us today by calling our office or filling out our online contact form.
