Two women are taken for emergency brain surgery after presenting injuries seen in high-speed collisions, but they only visited California’s Six Flags

Surgeons at a Southern California hospital recently raced to save the lives of two women who arrived with brain hemorrhages typically seen only in high-speed vehicle collisions or severe, violent accidents. These patients, however, hadn’t been in any sort of crash or fall. Instead, they had both spent time at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, specifically riding the park’s marquee attraction known as X2.

According to CNN, in July, in the span of less than a week, medical professionals treated these two women for injuries caused by the brain twisting and slamming against the inside of the skull. The ride, which is promoted as a “[rite] of passage for the ultimate daredevil,” has been linked to more than a dozen reports of serious injuries and hospitalizations over nearly two decades. This includes cases where riders suffered life-altering disabilities, fell into comas, or even died.

The mechanical design of X2 is reportedly what makes it so unique, and perhaps so dangerous. The seats rotate 360 degrees around the track, and since the train reaches speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour, the movements are often unpredictable. There are only two other roller coasters like it in the world, in Japan and in China. The Japanese ride actually closed temporarily last year following a fatal injury involving a park worker who was inspecting the structure.

An emergency closing

PEOPLE reported that Six Flags Magic Mountain closed X2 on the evening of July 12, nearly a full day after the latest injury was reported. Park officials have remained largely silent regarding the closure, only stating that “the ride remains closed at this time.” Per CNN, Internal records cited by an expert witness in court filings for one lawsuit show that the park has fielded scores of complaints about head and neck injuries over the years. Recently, another ride malfunctioned mid-air.

The tragic case of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley highlights the severity of these incidents. Per FOX 11, in June 2022, Hawley visited the park with his brother, Alex, who described the ride as “very rough.” He explained that the coaster jerked passengers aggressively and concluded with a violent forward jolt that caused their heads to slam into the headrests. 

Shortly after exiting the ride, Hawley reportedly complained of feeling lightheaded before collapsing. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where surgeons discovered brain bleeding so severe it was squeezing his brain toward one side of his skull. He died less than ten hours later. 

The neurosurgeon who treated him allegedly likened the injury to shaken baby syndrome. Per the outlet, the medical examiner ultimately ruled his death was caused by blunt head trauma from “a park ride accident.” FOX noted that his parents filed a lawsuit in 2023, alleging that Six Flags and the ride manufacturer were aware of the dangers. 

A jury trial for that case is set to begin on September 8 in Chatsworth. In a different case, a person was hit by a ride when he snuck in to find his keys.

CNN reported that the recent injuries to Pamela Guillen and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson have only intensified the scrutiny. Guillen, a 40-year-old from Hawaii, hit her head multiple times on the headrest during her ride this July. She lost consciousness on a bench shortly after. Doctors had to remove part of her skull to release the pressure on her brain. She spent weeks regaining full consciousness and now battles memory loss, terrible headaches, and brain fog.

Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, was also reportedly rushed for emergency brain surgery six days after riding X2. Her family reported that she has been in a coma for more than a month, kept alive by a ventilator and feeding tube. Her mother, Artemis Greer, told CNN, “This is the hardest thing a human being could go through,” and noted, “This is cruel.”

Despite these mounting reports, attorneys for the theme park have reportedly argued that passengers are warned of the inherent risks of amusement rides. They stated that the physical forces experienced on X2 are not strong enough to cause traumatic brain injuries for a “normal” rider using it “as instructed.” 

Three neurosurgeons who treated the two women disagreed with that assessment. In an email reviewed by CNN, they wrote, “In our professional opinion, the severe brain injuries requiring emergent neurosurgical attention were the result of a traumatic rapid acceleration-deceleration event experienced while on the X2 ride.”

Per the outlet, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the recent incidents. The organization has been questioned on how it deemed the ride safe to reopen in the past, with an expert telling CNN that repeated traumatic brain injuries linked to the same ride “constitute a clear safety signal” that should justify a comprehensive review.