A California family has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain following the death of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who suffered fatal head trauma after riding the X2 roller coaster in 2022.
Hawley, a San Diego State University graduate, visited the Los Angeles County theme park with his family during the summer of 2022. According to reports cited by Fox News and Fox 11 Los Angeles, he collapsed shortly after getting off the ride and died at a hospital the following day.
His death was reportedly ruled an accident caused by blunt-force head trauma sustained during the attraction. Hawley’s family has accused the theme park of having a defective ride design and described the X2 coaster as exceptionally rough.
His younger brother, Alex, also recalled the ride as extremely violent, saying the coaster repeatedly jerked passengers around before a sudden movement caused their heads to hit the headrests.
The family’s lawsuit comes amid renewed attention on the X2 attraction. In July 2026, another rider was reportedly found unconscious after riding the coaster, prompting Six Flags Magic Mountain to close the attraction for more than a month, according to KTLA.
The two incidents are separate, and the 2026 incident does not establish that the ride caused Hawley’s death.
The lawsuit is now expected to focus on the ride’s design, safety and the circumstances surrounding Hawley’s fatal injuries.
The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.