Six Flags X2 Remains Closed After Two Women Suffer Brain Injuries
Six Flags X2 remains closed after two women suffered severe brain injuries within six days of riding the roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The incidents have raised fresh questions about the ride’s safety as California regulators continue their inspection.
The Six Flags X2 roller coaster has been closed since July 12. Six Flags has not provided a detailed explanation for the closure, saying only that the ride remains closed. Authorities have also not announced when the inspection will be completed or when the attraction could reopen.
X2 is known for its unusual design, with seats that rotate while the train travels at speeds approaching 80 mph. A review of medical records, court documents and depositions found more than a dozen serious injuries and hospitalisations associated with the ride over nearly two decades.
The Six Flags X2 roller coaster brain injury reports include cases involving permanent disabilities and comas. Two people have also died after suffering injuries linked to the ride, with deaths reported in 2010 and 2022.
The 2022 case involved 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who became lightheaded after riding X2 and later collapsed. Doctors found severe bleeding in his head, and he died less than 10 hours after the ride. California officials ordered the attraction to close for inspection before it reopened several days later.
The latest incidents occurred in July 2026. Pamela Guillen, a 40-year-old woman from Hawaii, was visiting the park with her family when she rode X2 during a trip for her daughter’s birthday. Ambulance records said she repeatedly struck her head against the ride’s headrest. After returning to the station, she needed help leaving the ride, began vomiting, and later lost consciousness.
Another woman suffered a serious brain injury after riding X2 six days later and also required emergency brain surgery. The two cases have drawn attention from medical specialists who treated the women.
Experts generally consider serious brain injuries caused by roller coasters to be rare. However, some specialists have said the incidents involving X2 deserve closer examination because of the ride’s acceleration and sudden changes in movement.
The X2 injury history is now likely to remain a key part of the regulatory review. Until the inspection is completed, the ride will remain closed while officials assess whether additional safety measures are needed.