Six Flags closes its X2 roller coaster after brain-injury lawsuits
VALENCIA, CA - The Six Flags theme park company announced on Tuesday that it would permanently close the X2 roller coaster at its Magic Mountain park in Valencia, Calif., following allegations of serious brain injuries linked to the ride. The closure has renewed questions about how the intense forces generated by extreme roller coasters can affect the brain. Experts told TIME that abrupt acceleration, twisting, and changes in direction can stretch brain tissue and blood vessels, potentially increasing the risk of concussions and bleeding. Three lawsuits filed in late September allege that riders suffered brain injuries after riding X2, and attorneys told CNN that more than 100 people have contacted them with similar allegations. The suits came in the wake of a CNN investigation published in August about the ride's long history of incidents, including at least two deaths. X2 was a two-minute thrill ride that reached a top speed of 76 miles per hour and opened in 2002, according to a Six Flags webpage about X2…
30 Sep 00:00 · Inlandnewstoday