Six Flags Magic Mountain is facing lawsuits from three people who allege the X2 roller coaster caused catastrophic brain damage, while more than 100 others have reported traumatic brain injuries tied to the ride. The lawsuits come after the park had already closed X2 in mid-July.
Gary Dordick said on Tuesday that the plaintiffs went to Magic Mountain for entertainment and family fun and came away with catastrophic brain damage. He said, “These people went to Magic Mountain for some entertainment. For some family fun. And they suffered catastrophic brain damage.”
Naomi Greer-Wilkinson remains hospitalized
The complaints follow July incidents that attorneys say included two women who suffered brain hemorrhages and needed emergency surgery after riding X2. Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, remains hospitalized after that July ride incident.
Attorneys said doctors linked the injuries to a rapid acceleration-deceleration event on X2. Christopher Bulone said, “It’s the design of this ride that makes it inherently dangerous and makes it dangerous in a way that no reasonable rider would expect.” He added, “Time after time innocent people are coming off the ride with permanent brain damage.”
Six Flags Magic Mountain and X2
The ride has drawn scrutiny for years. An August investigation found more than a dozen reports of serious injuries, including two deaths, associated with X2 over nearly 20 years. The park describes the attraction as a fifth-dimension wing roller coaster with seats that rotate 360 degrees, flip, and reach speeds of up to 76mph.
Six Flags says it has a comprehensive safety program with rigorous inspections and industry-leading standards. The company has also said X2 had been closed since mid-July. For riders and families, the immediate issue is not whether the ride remains open, but whether these allegations broaden a dispute that now involves three lawsuits and more than 100 other injury claims.
Whether Six Flags or the ride’s designers will answer the allegations in court is the next unresolved step.
