The X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California is going to close permanently following reports of serious injuries reported by riders. The decision comes after an investigation raised new concern about brain injuries, hospital admissions and deaths associated with the ride over the past several years.
Six Flags Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding said this permanent closure was made because of safety criteria the attraction had passed multiple times which the park decided to roll out because of that, and officials thought it was the most appropriate course of action. Oerding also emphasized ride safety will be the business’ priority and guest trust is key, he said.
The announcement follows a CNN investigation that documented more than a dozen instances in which riders were seriously injured after experiencing the X2 roller coaster. Some of those incidents resulted in hospitalisation, while at least two deaths were investigated in connection with the ride, the report said.
More Riders have reported alleged brain injuries.
The controversy grew as more people came forward following the investigation. Attorneys representing riders said more than 100 more people had contacted them with claims that they experienced brain injuries after riding X2. The cases they described were during the last two years.
Among the cases is Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, a 26-year-old rider who reportedly suffered a severe brain injury and remains unconscious in hospital. Three lawsuits were filed on behalf of riders who were reported to have been injured and have suffered life-threatening injuries while using the attraction this year.
Pamela Guillen, another rider, lost consciousness as soon as she left the ride and required emergency brain surgery. Guillen later suffered from severe headaches and brain fog, received medication for seizures and had to undergo rehabilitation to regain basic skills, such as speaking and walking, the report said.
The allegations have raised questions about the ride’s operation and whether the attraction should have been closed earlier. Riders who were injured have accused Six Flags officials of being aware of the risks. Those claims are contested allegations and are part of ongoing legal proceedings.
What happened to Christopher Hawley?
One of the deaths connected with the X2 controversy is Christopher Hawley, who was 22 when he died after riding the attraction years ago. Hawley suffered a head injury (known as traumatic brain injury) and died hours after he rode the attraction, the report said.
His parents had insisted that the attraction close, the report said. Neurosurgeons who examined his injuries reported that his injuries were similar to violent shaking injuries. The coroner’s report listed blunt head trauma from a park ride accident as the cause of death, the report said.
The case has become something of a focal point in the attraction debate on a larger level because it predates the current wave of lawsuits and claims of injury.
Why is X2 an extreme ride?
X2 has been one of the signature attractions at Six Flags Magic Mountain for more than two decades. Unlike a classic roller coaster, it is a fourth-dimensional ride since the passenger seats can rotate independently while the train travels along the track.
The attraction has a speed of about 128 kmph and seats rotate 360 degrees. The combination of high-speed motion, track twists and rotating seats makes it different from a normal roller coaster.
The design has made X2 one of the most recognisable attractions in the park. But the recent allegations have placed the ride under more scrutiny, especially with respect to the physical forces experienced by passengers.
Six Flags permanently closed.
Although the allegations and lawsuits have been thrown up, Six Flags said X2 was thoroughly tested. So the decision of closing the ride is made in light of what is more likely to be the general trust and safety of people in the ride, rather than telling them the attraction had failed a safety check.
The closure ends an era for the attraction that had been a major draw at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The park’s move came more than three decades after the accident, and injured riders and their lawyers are still asking whether the ride is bad for health.
The latest claims (of serious brain injuries and a rider who was in a coma) have increased public interest in X2. The lawsuits and other legal proceedings may reveal more about the context of each individual incident.
The permanent closure means that X2 will no longer be open at Six Flags Magic Mountain. And this is just one of those things ride safety investigations are still a matter of fact and it is important to look at both reported injuries and how these high-intensity amusement park attractions are designed and operated.
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