Iconic Rollercoaster Leaves Several Dead and Dozens Injured

A heart-pounding ride on one of Six Flags’ most famous roller coasters has been linked to devastating brain injuries — and even deaths — according to a disturbing new investigation.

CNN reported that dozens of riders have suffered serious injuries after riding roller coasters at Six Flags parks, with some victims left with brain hemorrhages, permanent disabilities or in comas.

Two people reportedly died from brain injuries connected to roller coaster rides.

One ride at the center of the investigation is X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, a coaster billed as an extreme test for even the bravest thrill-seekers.

The terrifying attraction features seats that rotate 360 degrees while riders are sent through drops and twists at speeds approaching 80 mph.

According to CNN, two women were hospitalized with brain hemorrhages within days of each other in July.

Despite the alarming incidents, X2 reportedly continued operating. CNN said the coaster’s final ride took place on the night of July 12 — one full day after both women had been hospitalized.

The investigation examined hospitalization and injury records spanning roughly two decades and uncovered cases involving riders who suffered devastating neurological injuries following trips to Six Flags.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health and Six Flags have not publicly explained the deaths cited in CNN’s investigation, according to the report.

Six Flags has faced lawsuits from families of injured riders in the past. Attorneys defending the amusement park company have pointed to posted warnings advising guests that roller coasters carry risks and indicating that riders without certain health problems should be able to safely experience the attractions.

But experts say serious brain injuries should not simply be accepted as part of riding a roller coaster.

“There is no reason a ride can’t be properly designed to prevent injuries like this,” Lyndia Wu, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of British Columbia, told CNN.

And X2 is not the only Six Flags attraction that has come under scrutiny.

CNN also identified injuries associated with other rides, including the massive Goliath roller coaster, which remains open.

The findings raise troubling questions about what happens to the human body during the violent acceleration, sudden drops and rapid changes in direction that have made extreme roller coasters so popular.

For millions of Americans, a trip to Six Flags is supposed to deliver a few minutes of harmless adrenaline.

For some riders, however, those few minutes allegedly ended with a terrifying trip to the hospital — and injuries that would change their lives forever.