Six Flags to permanently close X2 roller coaster after CNN investigation exposed injuries and deaths

Six Flags has announced it will permanently close its X2 roller coaster, roughly a month after a CNN investigation exposed a long history of life-altering injuries and deaths linked to the ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.

Six Flags Magic Mountain president Brian Oerding wrote in a blog post on Tuesday that while X2 had “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests, we have decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do.” He added: “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”

CNN’s investigation, published on August 27, documented more than a dozen reports of serious injuries and hospitalisations associated with the ride, including at least two deaths, kept largely under wraps for years. Most recently, two women were taken to the same Santa Clarita emergency room with brain injuries six days apart in July: Pamela Guillen, 40, who rode on July 5 and suffered an acute subdural haematoma with brain compression, and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, who collapsed after riding six days later. Both needed emergency brain surgery, and three neurosurgeons told CNN the injuries were consistent with a traumatic rapid acceleration and deceleration event on the ride.

The ride was temporarily shut the day after the second injury. Last week attorneys announced that more than 100 new victims had come forward alleging X2-related brain injuries in the past two years alone, and Christopher Bulone filed three lawsuits against the park. Los Angeles attorney Michael Wilk, who says he suffered brain bleeding requiring multiple surgeries after riding in February, filed his own suit on September 21.

Dordick Law Corp, which has filed multiple suits, said hundreds more had contacted it about injuries. Attorney Gary Dordick said: “Closing the ride protects future guests, and we welcome that. But it does nothing for the people who have already been hurt. Six Flags must now take responsibility for them.”

X2, which opened in 2008, was the park’s marquee attraction for nearly two decades, famed for seats that rotate 360 degrees around the track at speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour.

Sources

• CNN: Six Flags to close world-famous roller coaster after CNN investigation exposed years of injuries and deaths
• USA Today: Six Flags to close X2 roller coaster after reports of brain injuries
• Inside the Magic: Six Flags Permanently Closes Infamous Coaster After 2 Deaths, 100+ Traumatic Brain Injuries
• LADbible: Over 100 people say rollercoaster linked to deaths left them with brain damage