Family Sues Six Flags Over X2 Roller Coaster Design After Fatal 2022 Ride
The suit alleges a design defect that caused blunt-force head trauma and follows a July 5, 2026 incident that prompted a lengthy closure of X2 for investigation.
Overview
- The Hawley family filed the lawsuit publicly reported on August 25, 2026, claiming the X2 coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain had a defective design that directly led to their 22-year-old son’s fatal injuries.
- Officials previously ruled Christopher Hawley’s death an accident caused by blunt-force head trauma sustained after he rode X2 in the summer of 2022.
- Family members, including Christopher’s brother Alex, told local reporters the ride felt unusually violent and jerked riders so hard that heads slammed into headrests.
- X2 was closed for more than a month after a July 5, 2026 incident in which a rider was found unconscious while the park and investigators reviewed the ride’s operation and safety record.
- Six Flags has separately announced a corporate headquarters move to Arlington, Texas to be completed by March 2027, a company action that is unrelated to the lawsuit but part of concurrent coverage.