CHATSWORTH, CA — A week after the supplier of the replacement coaster trains for the Six Flags Magic Mountain X2 roller coaster filed court papers Thursday asking a judge to approve a settlement with the parents of a 22- year-old San Diego State University graduate who died after riding the attraction in 2022, the theme park itself also has reached an accord in the case.
William and Anne Hawley — the father and mother of the late Christopher Hawley — filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Magic Mountain LLC as well as S&S Worldwide Inc. The couple's attorneys filed court papers filed Wednesday with Judge Andrew E. Cooper stating that a settlements with Magic Mountain had also been reached and was being put in writing along with the S&S accord. The terms were not divulged.
In their court papers, S&S attorneys stated that the X2 coaster trains operated "exactly as intended and exactly as designed and constructed" and that Magic Mountain was charged with maintaining the roller coaster and S&S had nothing to do with the ride's upkeep.
Christopher Hawley was in good health when he went to Magic Mountain with his younger brother and cousin but after getting off the ride, he "reportedly walked haltingly, clutched a railing for support and complained that his head hurt before collapsing," according to the family's attorneys, who added that he never regained consciousness and died the next day on June 24, 2022.
The lawsuit alleged a CT scan revealed a catastrophic subdural hematoma and that a coroner's report attributed his death to head trauma from the park ride accident.
"Christopher's family is determined to seek justice and accountability from those responsible for his death and to prevent such tragedies from happening to others," family attorney Timothy A. Loranger said previously.
The X2 roller coaster was shut down in July due to an ongoing safety investigation unrelated to the Hawley case. Prior to this week's case resolution, trial of the part of the case against Magic Mountain was scheduled to begin Sept. 8.
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