The future of the X2 roller coaster, one of Six Flags Magic Mountain’s most recognizable attractions, remains uncertain. The uncertainty comes after recent incidents that caused brain injuries to two passengers in a short period, adding to a recent court settlement involving the death of a third person on the same ride. Security officials are investigating the equipment at the Valencia, California, theme park.
Serious consequences for passenger in X2
On July 5, 2026, Pamela Guillen, 40, was visiting Magic Mountain with her daughter to celebrate the young woman’s 16th birthday. The X2 roller coaster was the choice to end the day. During the 1,100-meter ride, Guillen reported repeatedly hitting his head against the back of his seat. Upon returning to the station, she required assistance to get out of her seat and began vomiting. Shortly afterwards, he lost consciousness.
Her daughter, Marquez, desperately tried to wake her up. “Mommy, please wake up,” Marquez begged, as later reported, as he tried to revive his mother. Guillen was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. A CT scan revealed a severe subdural hematoma and brain compression. She underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure, a procedure that required the removal of part of her skull. Two weeks later, Guillen woke up in the hospital with no memory of what happened. “You go in as yourself and when you come back it’s considered a medical emergency. I still can’t wrap my head around it,” she said.
Another passenger falls into a coma in less than a week
Just six days after the incident with Pamela Guillen, another passenger, 25-year-old Los Angeles resident Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, lost consciousness shortly after exiting the X2. She was also taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and underwent emergency brain surgery.
Naomi remains in critical condition and in a coma. His mother, Artemis Greer, expressed deep concern about the incident. “Naomi should never have had the option to get on that ride,” he said. Both the Guillen and Greer-Wilkinson families are being represented by attorney Christopher Bulone of Dordick Law Corp. in Beverly Hills.
Settlement for wrongful death in previous incident
The new cases come to light after Six Flags Magic Mountain and toymaker S&S Worldwide reached a settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by the family of Christopher Hawley, 22, of Garden Grove, who died in 2022.
On June 23, 2022, Hawley was riding X2 with his younger brother and cousin when the roller coaster “suddenly, abruptly and violently stopped” at the end of the ride, according to court filings. After disembarking, Hawley demonstrated difficulty balancing and complained of a headache. He was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital with a serious brain injury and died the following day. Details of the plea deal have not been publicly released. Those responsible for the hospital did not comment on what happened.
X2 roller coaster remains closed for investigation
Since mid-July 2026, the X2 roller coaster has been closed to the public. Six Flags Magic Mountain has not commented on the recent incidents. However, it has been confirmed that the attraction remains inoperable while a Cal/OSHA-led safety investigation is ongoing. The inspection aims to determine the causes of accidents and evaluate the general safety conditions of the equipment.
The worrying history of the X2 attraction
The X2 is known for its innovation as a “fifth-dimensional wing roller coaster” where the seats rotate independently of the carriages, providing a high-impact experience. The attraction reaches speeds of up to 122 km/h, with drops and inversions that can be disorienting for passengers.
Over nearly two decades of operation, the roller coaster has been linked to more than a dozen reports of serious injuries and hospitalizations, raising questions about its continued safety. X2 was the last roller coaster designed and built by Arrow Dynamics. It debuted as “X” in 2002 and underwent a major renovation before being reopened as “X2” in 2008, seeking to offer an even more intense experience.