S&S Worldwide, the supplier of replacement trains for Six Flags Magic Mountain's X2, has asked a California judge to approve a proposed settlement with Christopher Hawley's parents. The wrongful-death claims against Magic Mountain are scheduled for trial Sept. 8.
S&S Filing Seeks Approval for a Proposed Settlement
Court papers filed with Judge Andrew E. Cooper on Aug. 20 ask for approval of an agreement covering S&S's potential share of liability. The papers do not disclose the proposed settlement terms and set a hearing for Oct. 22.
William and Anne Hawley sued Magic Mountain and S&S after their son collapsed after riding X2 on June 23, 2022, and died the next day. S&S's filing frames its part of the case around a strict product-liability theory. Approval of that agreement would not resolve the family's claims against Magic Mountain.
September Trial Keeps Magic Mountain Claims Open
The separate case against Magic Mountain is scheduled for trial Sept. 8 in Chatsworth. The family's claims include defective ride design, negligence, wrongful death and failure to warn. The court has not resolved those allegations.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner classified Christopher Hawley's death as an accident caused by blunt head trauma sustained in a park ride accident, according to records described in local reporting. The X2 safety investigation tied to a separate July incident is unrelated to the Hawley case.
Sources: MyNewsLA.com's report on the court filing and FOX 11 Los Angeles' report based on family interviews, medical examiner findings, Six Flags statements and court scheduling records. The first-party image is from Six Flags Magic Mountain.