The family of a 22-year-old man who collapsed and died after riding the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia is suing the theme park and the designers of the ride, accusing the defendants of “despicable” conduct, malice and wrongful death.
The family of Christopher Hawley, a San Diego State University graduate who died after riding the rollercoaster, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court. A trial is expected to begin this fall in the case, which alleges that Hawley suffered an extensive intracranial hemorrhage as a result of roller-coaster design defects that Magic Mountain personnel should have known about.
“As a result of the wrongful and despicable conduct of (the) defendants … Christopher Hawley, who was in excellent health when he arrived at Six Flags Magic Mountain, sustained a shearing injury to his brain, resulting in massive intracranial hemorrhaging and eventual death, all caused by riding the fourth-dimension roller coaster known as ‘X2,’” the lawsuit states.
Such roller coasters are built with seats that rotate independently – 360 degrees – of the train’s forward motion. The theme park’s website indicates that the riders reach speeds of up to 76 miles per hour.
Six Flags did not respond to requests for comment, but he family’s attorneys, Ari Friedman, provided the Southern California Record with a copy of the amended lawsuit filed against the theme park.
“Six Flags has answered the lawsuit and has denied any wrongdoing,” Friedman said in an email.
The wrongful-death lawsuit seeks general damages, medical and funeral expenses, punitive damages, compensation for loss of love and companionship, and the costs of the lawsuit. The family alleges the defendants are liable for X2 design defects, a failure to warn riders of potential health hazards from the ride and negligence.
The X2 originally opened in 2002 but has been shut down at times due to redesigns and improvements to reduce train jams, as well as to repair a broken chain lift, according to the lawsuit. On June 23, 2022, Christopher Hawley rode the X2 with his younger brother and cousin.
“Plaintiffs are informed and believe … that the Six Flags Magic Mountain defendants have spent in excess of $55,000,000 to construct X2, making it one of the most expensive roller coasters ever built,” the lawsuit states, adding that all three of the family members were strapped into their seats normally and complied with oral or written warnings.
The lawsuit describes the ride they experienced in terms indicating a breakneck pace.
“The entirety of the X2 ride was extremely rough and jerked its riders around like rag dolls,” the complaint says. “As X2 approached its conclusion, the ride suddenly, abruptly and violently jolted to a halt, jarring decedent Christopher Hawley and the other two boys in their seats.”
After exiting the ride, Hawley walked haltingly and complained of pain in his head. He then slumped onto his side, lost consciousness and was later transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital, according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs allege the X2 has caused severe back, spine, neck, head and brain injuries to other riders and that the X2’s safety warnings are outdated. In addition, numerous people have complained on social media posts about dangers to bodily harm posed by the theme park ride, according to the complaint.