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The family of Christopher Hawley, a San Diego State University graduate, filed a lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain alleging the X2 roller coaster had a defective design that resulted in fatal injuries to the 22-year-old. According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, Hawley collapsed shortly after riding the attraction during a summer 2022 visit to the Los Angeles County theme park and died the following day from blunt-force head trauma.
Hawley’s brother Alex described the ride as violently jerking passengers around before a sudden jolt that sent riders’ heads slamming backward into headrests. Following the ride, Christopher appeared visibly ill with a reddened face before suddenly collapsing, prompting emergency responders to transport him to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries within 24 hours.
A surgeon treating Hawley compared his injuries to shaken baby syndrome, a condition in which violent forces cause the brain to shift rapidly within the skull, potentially causing swelling, bruising and bleeding. Christopher’s father, William, told the local station the medical professional said the ride’s force had essentially ruptured his son’s brain.
The lawsuit names Six Flags, the X2 manufacturer and park employees as defendants, alleging they failed to provide adequate public warnings about the attraction’s risks. A jury trial is scheduled to begin September 8, according to reports.
In a separate incident, the X2 roller coaster was closed following July 5, 2026, when a rider was found unconscious, prompting a closure lasting more than a month. Six Flags confirmed to Fox 11 that the ride has remained closed since the evening of July 12th but declined to comment directly on the litigation to Fox News Digital.
The X2 attraction is marketed as one of the theme park’s most intense rides, featuring seats that rotate 360 degrees. The Los Angeles County Fire Department and Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
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