Parents Seek $10 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over X2 Ride at Magic Mountain
The family of Christopher Hawley shared their story with media outlets on March 18, 2025, nearly three years after the 22-year-old died from a brain injury allegedly sustained while riding Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 roller coaster. The Garden Grove family filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming the Valencia theme park’s extreme thrill ride caused a fatal subdural hematoma in their otherwise healthy son. Christopher, a recent San Diego State University graduate, was riding the coaster with his brother and cousin on June 23, 2022, when the incident occurred, leaving his family devastated and demanding accountability for what they describe as a preventable tragedy.
5 Key Points
- Christopher Hawley died on June 24, 2022, one day after suffering a catastrophic right subdural hematoma while riding the X2 roller coaster.
- The lawsuit alleges negligence, design defects, and failure to warn customers of potential dangers associated with the high-speed, rotating-seat attraction.
- Family attorney Ari Friedman claims X2 has a history of causing injuries, including whiplash and head trauma due to “sudden shuddering and jolts.”
- Six Flags Magic Mountain officials have declined to comment on the pending litigation.
- A previous brain injury lawsuit against the park involving the same ride was dismissed after a judge removed Magic Mountain as a defendant.
How Did a Day at Six Flags Turn Fatal for Christopher Hawley?
What began as a fun outing to Six Flags Magic Mountain on June 23, 2022, ended in tragedy for 22-year-old Christopher Hawley. According to the lawsuit, Christopher visited the park with his younger brother Alex and their cousin, deciding to ride the X2 roller coaster—one of the park’s most extreme attractions featuring independently rotating seats, a 215-foot drop, and speeds reaching 76 mph. Christopher sat alone in a row while his brother and cousin sat directly behind him. As the ride concluded, the lawsuit alleges the tram “suddenly, abruptly, and violently jolted to a halt.” After the ride stopped, Christopher complained of head pain before slumping over and losing consciousness. Despite being rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, where emergency doctors diagnosed him with a catastrophic right subdural hematoma, Christopher’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He died the following day, on June 24, 2022. According to the lawsuit, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined his cause of death to be “blunt force trauma,” and toxicology screening came back negative, suggesting no contributing factors beyond the roller coaster incident itself.
Why Do the Hawleys Believe Six Flags is Responsible for Their Son’s Death?
The Hawley family’s lawsuit alleges multiple forms of negligence on the part of Six Flags Magic Mountain, claiming the theme park failed to properly maintain the X2 ride and adequately warn guests about potential dangers. “We want to make sure that that ride isn’t going to kill somebody else,” William Hawley told reporters during a video conference on March 18. “They won’t explain to us what happened. They’ve essentially gone dark. The only way we’ve been able to contact them is through our attorney.” The lawsuit specifically cites X2’s design and operation issues, pointing to a troubled history dating back to its original incarnation as “X”—the world’s first “fourth dimension” roller coaster. According to court documents, the ride experienced numerous delays and functionality problems after opening in January 2002, with subsequent shutdowns for design changes in June 2002 and a complete redesign in December 2007. The family’s attorney, Ari Friedman of Wisner Baum, emphasized that Christopher’s case isn’t isolated, stating: “This is not the first time someone has sustained a serious injury as a result of riding X2. X2 has been linked to previous incidents, where people received whiplash, head and leg injuries, and more, from the ride’s sudden shuddering and jolts.”
What Does the Lawsuit Reveal About X2’s History of Safety Concerns?
According to details revealed in the Hawley family’s lawsuit, the X2 roller coaster has a documented history of operational challenges and safety concerns. Originally developed as “X,” the ride was plagued with design flaws that delayed its opening until January 2002. The lawsuit alleges that Arrow Dynamics, the original ride manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy after Six Flags expanded the scope beyond initial specifications, forcing the park to complete construction under the supervision of Tim Burkhart, a former Six Flags executive. Following its opening, persistent “functionality issues” led to a shutdown for design changes just months later in June 2002, and the ride underwent a complete redesign in December 2007, reemerging as “X2.” Despite these modifications, the complaint states that the ride continued to generate safety complaints from both guests and employees, who allegedly criticized it for “being dangerous and causing bodily harm to its passengers.” The lawsuit further contends that the park failed to provide adequate warnings that the ride could cause “serious, catastrophic, or fatal head or brain injuries.” Six Flags faces previous litigation related to X2, including a 2021 lawsuit filed by a San Bernardino woman claiming brain injuries, though that case was ultimately dismissed after a judge removed Magic Mountain as a defendant. At the time, Six Flags claimed “expert testing” proved the ride did not cause the woman’s alleged traumatic brain injury.
How Have Six Flags Responded to the Family’s Allegations?
Six Flags Magic Mountain has maintained a limited public response to the Hawley family’s allegations, declining to comment on the pending litigation when contacted by multiple media outlets. While the theme park has not issued formal statements specifically addressing Christopher Hawley’s death or the claims in the lawsuit, one of the defendants named in the case—S&S Worldwide, which describes itself as an “international leader in creating, innovating, designing, engineering, and manufacturing amusement rides”—filed a 13-page response in April 2024 denying all claims in the lawsuit. This pattern of limited public engagement aligns with standard legal strategy in active litigation cases. However, William Hawley’s comments suggest the family has faced challenges obtaining information directly from the park since the incident. “They won’t explain to us what happened. They’ve essentially gone dark,” he told reporters during the March 18 media interviews. The lawsuit claims the X2 ride briefly ceased operation on the day of Christopher’s injury but resumed later that same day, raising questions about the park’s incident response protocols. The family’s legal team anticipates seeking approximately $10 million in compensatory damages, with the exact amount depending on the results of the ride inspection and evidence discovered during the pre-trial investigation.
What Emotional Toll Has This Case Taken on the Hawley Family?
The sudden and traumatic loss of Christopher Hawley has left an irreparable void in his family’s lives, with his parents and brother struggling to cope with their grief while simultaneously fighting for accountability. Alex Hawley, Christopher’s brother who was with him on that fateful day at Six Flags, shared his ongoing anguish during the March 18 media interviews: “There’s just a void in our lives. It’s really just not the same. He was just that light. He would walk in a room and light up the whole place.” This emotional testimony offers a glimpse into the profound personal impact of the tragedy on the Hawley family, who described Christopher as being in excellent health before the incident. The wrongful death lawsuit represents not only their pursuit of financial compensation but also their determination to prevent similar tragedies from affecting other families. William Hawley emphasized their desire for systemic change: “We want to make sure that that ride isn’t going to kill somebody else.” Through their legal action and public advocacy, the Hawleys have transformed their tragedy into a campaign for greater amusement park safety. The process has clearly taken a significant emotional toll as they confront both their grief and the complex legal battle ahead. The case is scheduled for a hearing in Chatsworth next month, representing another step in the family’s difficult journey toward closure and justice.
FAQ
Q: What specific type of brain injury did Christopher Hawley suffer?
A: Christopher Hawley suffered a catastrophic right subdural hematoma, which emergency room doctors diagnosed at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later determined his cause of death to be “blunt force trauma.”
Q: What makes the X2 roller coaster different from standard thrill rides?
A: X2 is classified as a “fourth dimension” roller coaster featuring seats that rotate independently from the track as the ride progresses. It includes a 215-foot drop, sudden flips, and rotations while reaching speeds up to 76 mph. This design creates a more disorienting experience than conventional roller coasters.
Q: Have there been other injuries reported on the X2 roller coaster?
A: Yes, according to the lawsuit and the family’s attorney. A San Bernardino woman filed a lawsuit in 2021 claiming brain injuries from the ride, though that case was dismissed. The family’s attorney also referenced past incidents, including whiplash, head injuries, and leg injuries allegedly caused by the ride’s “sudden shuddering and jolts.”
Q: What safety measures does Six Flags have in place for rides like X2?
A: While specific safety measures for X2 aren’t detailed in the available information, the lawsuit alleges inadequate warnings about potential dangers. According to court documents, Christopher Hawley and the other riders were properly secured in their seats, suggesting the standard restraint systems were functioning.
Q: What amount of money is the family seeking in damages?
A: According to reports, the family’s legal team anticipates seeking approximately $10 million in compensatory damages. However, the final amount will depend on the results of the ride inspection and evidence discovered during the investigation.
Q: Is the X2 roller coaster still operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain?
A: Based on available information, the X2 roller coaster continues to operate at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The lawsuit claims the ride was temporarily shut down after Christopher Hawley’s injury but resumed operation later that same day.
Q: When will this case be resolved?
A: The lawsuit is scheduled for a hearing in Chatsworth next month (April 2025). However, complex wrongful death litigation can take many months or even years to reach a final resolution, either through settlement or trial.
Citations
ABC27. (2025, March 19). Lawsuit claims California man suffered fatal brain injury on Six Flags roller coaster. https://www.abc27.com/national/lawsuit-claims-california-man-suffered-fatal-brain-injury-on-six-flags-roller-coaster/amp/
Law and Crime. (2025, March 19). 22-year-old college grad died from ‘shearing injury’ to his brain after riding X2 roller coaster at Six Flags: Lawsuit. https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/22-year-old-college-grad-died-from-shearing-injury-to-his-brain-after-riding-x2-roller-coaster-at-six-flags-lawsuit/
KTLA. (2025, March 19). Lawsuit claims man suffered fatal brain injury on Six Flags roller coaster. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/young-man-22-suffers-fatal-brain-injury-on-six-flags-magic-mountain-coaster-lawsuit-claims/
Signal SCV. (2025, March 19). Six Flags sued over death on X2. https://signalscv.com/2025/03/six-flags-sued-over-death-on-x2/
The Mirror US. (2025, March 19). California graduate, 22, suffered fatal brain injury on Six Flags roller coaster, lawsuit claims. https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/california-graduate-22-suffered-fatal-1040891
