A family from California has filed a lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain, claiming the design of the X2 roller coaster is fundamentally defective after their 22-year-old son suffered fatal head injuries while on the ride.
This tragic event occurred during the summer of 2022 when Christopher Hawley, who had recently graduated from San Diego State University, visited the theme park in Los Angeles County with his family. Reports indicate that shortly after riding the X2, he collapsed and, sadly, passed away the following day.
Additionally, the X2 was linked to another incident on July 5, 2026, when a rider was found unconscious, leading to the attraction’s closure for over a month.
Officials ruled Christopher’s death as an accident caused by blunt-force trauma to the head, which his family described as exceptionally harsh. His younger brother, Alex, characterized the ride as extremely violent, stating that it tossed riders around intensively before ending with a forceful jolt causing their heads to snap back into the headrests.
“It was very rough. It just jerked us. It just jerked us all around,” Alex recounted during an interview. He described how after the ride, Christopher seemed unwell, with a noticeably red face before collapsing unexpectedly.
Despite emergency responders’ swift action, Christopher could not be saved, passing away from his injuries the following day.
In discussing the nature of his injuries, a surgeon likened them to shaken baby syndrome, explaining how the ride’s forces could cause the brain to move violently within the skull, leading to severe damage, including swelling and bleeding. Christopher’s father, William, shared that the surgeon noted the force of the impact essentially ruptured his brain.
In response to the lawsuit, Six Flags did not provide a direct comment but mentioned that the ride is still closed following the earlier incident in July 2026.
A jury trial involving Six Flags, the manufacturer of the X2 ride, and park staff is set to commence on September 8. The lawsuit also claims that the defendants failed to properly inform the public regarding the ride’s potential risks, especially given its reputation as one of the park’s most intense attractions, featuring seats that rotate 360 degrees.
As of now, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the County Medical Examiner have not responded to requests for comment about the situation.
