For decades, Six Flags Magic Mountain has been a rite of passage for thrill-seekers across Southern California. But a wave of lawsuits now casts a shadow over one of its most extreme attractions, the X2 roller coaster, as more than 100 riders allege the ride caused traumatic brain injuries.
At a press conference in Los Angeles, civil attorney Christopher Bulone stood alongside affected families to announce three new legal complaints against the Valencia park. Among the most alarming cases is that of Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, a 26-year-old who remains hospitalized in a coma after riding X2 on July 11. Another plaintiff, Pam Guillen, 40, suffered severe injuries on July 5. A third rider, Michael Wilk, says he was injured during an earlier visit and believes public warnings could have prevented subsequent accidents.
The lawsuits argue that X2's unique design—a fourth-dimension coaster that spins riders 360 degrees independently of the track—generates rapid acceleration and deceleration forces that exceed safe physiological limits. Medical experts treating the injured confirm the trauma resulted from these extreme forces. The ride, which stands 215 feet tall and reaches speeds over 78 mph, was permanently closed on July 12 following the hospitalizations.
Safety protocols under fire
Six Flags maintains that all attractions undergo rigorous daily inspections and comply with federal safety standards. But plaintiff attorneys counter that these checks fail to address the specific biomechanical stresses of fourth-dimension coasters. Consumer advocacy groups are using these cases to highlight gaps in state-level oversight, and industry analysts predict the legal battles could reshape how amusement parks disclose risks and report incidents.
Federal transportation agencies are monitoring the litigation closely, considering whether additional restrictions are needed for extreme thrill rides. Meanwhile, the families of victims are demanding accountability. Artemis, Greer-Wilkinson's mother, criticized the continued operation of such attractions, saying, "No one should have to go through this."
The X2 coaster, originally opened as X in 2002, was engineered by the now-defunct Arrow Dynamics. Similar models, like Eejanaika in Japan and Dinoconda in China, operate worldwide, raising questions about their safety across borders. For Latino families who frequent these parks—many of whom are part of the growing Southern California community—the issue hits close to home. As recent reports of emergency brain surgery on the same ride show, the stakes are life-altering.
Legal experts anticipate more filings as affected riders come forward. The outcome of these cases could lead to mandatory independent audits of complex amusement rides across the United States, a change that many believe is long overdue. For now, the X2 remains closed, and the debate over how far roller coasters can push the human body continues.
