VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA — Three lawsuits were filed Monday in the Superior Court of the State of California against Six Flags and S&S Worldwide. The complaints allege that the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain caused catastrophic brain injuries to riders.

The lawsuits accuse Six Flags and S&S Worldwide of operating a defectively designed ride. They also accuse the companies of failing to adequately warn passengers about the risk of serious brain injuries. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs state that more than 100 other people have come forward alleging brain injuries from riding the X2 roller coaster in the last two years.

An MRI examination revealed massive brain bleeding and swelling in Wilk. He underwent an emergency embolization procedure that failed to control the bleeding. Wilk subsequently underwent two separate craniotomies to relieve the bleeding.

His lawsuit claims he has suffered permanent cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law due to his injuries. "My brain has difficulty processing the words, and so unless it’s extraordinarily clear and loud, my brain gets the word wrong. I think I miss about half the conversations I’m in," Wilk said.

Pamela Guillen rode the X2 roller coaster on July 5, 2026, at her daughter Camille Marquez's urging. During the ride, Guillen repeatedly hit her head against the ride’s headrest. Afterward, Marquez saw her mother sitting with a vacant stare and her mouth open.

Marquez initially thought Guillen was joking. Guillen was confused and unstable on her feet and needed help getting out of her seat. She began vomiting and lost consciousness after the ride. Medical records reviewed by Guillen had no prior history of neurological conditions or brain injuries.

Guillen underwent emergency brain surgery to treat a brain hemorrhage. Surgeons removed part of her skull during the procedure. She did not regain consciousness for two weeks following her surgery.

My next memory was waking up in the hospital about two weeks later, Guillen stated. She said she was forced to learn how to talk and walk again after her injury. Guillen stated she battles terrible headaches and brain fog and needs medication to prevent seizures.

Naomi Greer-Wilkinson rode the X2 with her siblings on July 11, 2026. She lost consciousness after riding the roller coaster. Greer-Wilkinson is described in court papers as an incompetent adult.

She underwent multiple operations to relieve pressure on her brain. Greer-Wilkinson remains bedridden with minimal consciousness and unable to speak.

Surgeons determined Guillen and Greer-Wilkinson's injuries were caused by a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced while on the X2 ride. The lawsuits allege Six Flags knew Guillen had been hurt but continued to operate X2 without adequately investigating the cause of her injury or warning subsequent riders. The injured riders are seeking unspecified damages.

"These families, these people, went to Magic Mountain for some entertainment, for some family fun, and they suffered catastrophic brain damage," attorney Gary Dordick said. Dordick stated that Magic Mountain has known about the dangers of the X2 ride for years. He noted that his firm accepted only cases involving people who had obtained medical treatment before contacting an attorney.

Dordick stated that all clients his firm represents suffered some form of brain injury. He expects additional lawsuits to be filed on behalf of clients in the coming weeks.

Attorney Christopher Bulone criticized the park's stance on liability. "The design of this ride makes it inherently dangerous, and makes it dangerous in a way that no reasonable rider would expect," Bulone said. He stated that Six Flags has been willingly gambling with people’s lives.

Bulone stated that Magic Mountain seems to think it is OK that if people voluntarily choose to ride a roller coaster, then they have assumed the risk. "Riders do not assume a risk of death or catastrophic brain damage for some family fun," Bulone said. He also stated that no ride like X2 should be allowed to exist. Regarding Greer-Wilkinson, Bulone said, "Naomi had no idea, when she was going to Magic Mountain with her siblings and her friends, that she was signing up for something that could potentially rip the veins in her skull, cause catastrophic bleeding, and lead to a coma." Wilk added, "I truly hope that by coming forward, changes will be made."

Six Flags stated it does not comment on pending litigation. Attorneys for Six Flags have argued in court that a sign warns passengers there are inherent risks in participating in amusement rides. They have stated that X2 is regularly tested and that physical forces riders experience are not strong enough to create a traumatic brain injury for a normal rider using it as instructed. Six Flags has argued in previous court filings that the ride has passed ASTM standards, which test amusement rides for safety and specify criteria for acceleration limits, loads and forces.

S&S Worldwide is the manufacturer of the X2 roller coaster. The ride opened in 2002 and has been advertised as a rite of passage for the ultimate daredevil. Six Flags promises that riders of X2 will be spun into another dimension.

The attraction features a 215-foot drop and sends riders through sudden flips and rotations. It was plagued with problems over the years and closed several times to undergo redesigns. Cal/OSHA requires amusement ride operators to report any incidents involving serious injury or death within 24 hours, but Six Flags has not publicly disclosed any such reports related to the X2 in recent years. The X2 roller coaster has been closed since July 12, 2026.

A CNN investigation documented at least two deaths and more than a dozen reports of serious injuries associated with the X2 roller coaster. Christopher Hawley died in 2022 after riding the X2 roller coaster. Hawley was a 22-year-old San Diego State University graduate.

He had difficulty walking after getting off X2 before collapsing and losing consciousness. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled Hawley's death resulted from accidental blunt head trauma. In 2022, Six Flags settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with the family of Hawley, who died after riding the X2, for an undisclosed amount, according to court records. Hawley's parents reached an undisclosed settlement with Magic Mountain and the supplier of X2’s replacement trains in August 2026.

Attorneys state that clients include the family of a young man who died after riding X2 in late 2025. Attorneys state they have heard from hundreds of other riders who were either ineligible to sue due to the statute of limitations, had injuries that were not brain-related, or did not have proof of medical treatment.

Timeline

The X2 roller coaster opened in 2002. Hawley died in 2022 after riding the X2 roller coaster. Hawley had difficulty walking after getting off X2 before collapsing and losing consciousness.

Michael Wilk rode the X2 roller coaster on February 7, 2026. Wilk's head began slamming violently against the headrest of his seat during the X2 ride. Wilk felt ill immediately upon exiting the X2 ride. Pamela Guillen rode the X2 roller coaster on July 5, 2026.

What's New

Six Flags Magic Mountain has a documented history of safety violations related to the X2 roller coaster, including a 2014 incident where the ride was temporarily shut down due to mechanical failures that caused sudden stops and passenger injuries. Pamela Guillen had no prior history of neurological conditions or brain injuries before riding the X2 roller coaster in July 2026, according to medical records reviewed. In 2025, a young man died after riding the X2, according to attorneys representing new clients in lawsuits against Six Flags, as reported in a 2026 article.

Surgeons determined Pamela Guillen and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson's injuries were caused by a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced while on the X2 ride. Pamela Guillen stated she was forced to learn how to talk and walk again after her injury. Pamela Guillen stated she battles terrible headaches and brain fog and needs medication to prevent seizures. Pamela Guillen stated her next memory was waking up in the hospital about two weeks later.

Why It Matters

The lawsuits cite a pattern of prior deaths, settlements, and medical findings linking the X2 roller coaster to traumatic acceleration-deceleration events. With more than 100 individuals reportedly coming forward with allegations of brain injuries in the last two years, the case shows potential systemic safety issues with the attraction's design and operation. The closure of the ride since July 12, 2026, and the lack of public disclosure regarding recent serious incidents under Cal/OSHA reporting requirements prompt questions about transparency and regulatory oversight.