A man aged 42 tragically lost his life while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia after being ejected from his seat, hitting other riders before falling to the ground, as per police reports on Tuesday. Authorities have interviewed witnesses and park staff who witnessed the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, approximately 24 kilometers northwest of Atlanta. The deceased individual was identified as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem by Cobb County police, with no further details released about the injured individuals.
Following the incident, nine similar roller coasters across six North American parks were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, stated a spokesperson from Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. The park immediately responded with staff and local authorities, fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Expressing deep sadness over the tragic event, the spokesperson mentioned that support is being provided to affected guests and employees.
Among the list of closed rides are Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland, situated north of Toronto, with no specified reopening timeline. Canada’s Wonderland continues its Halloween-themed operations for 12 more evenings and weekends before winter closure. Meanwhile, Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park has halted its Goliath roller-coaster temporarily awaiting updates from the ride manufacturer. Formerly a Six Flags property, La Ronde was acquired by EPR Properties earlier this year.
Although the roller-coaster at the Georgia site was not officially identified by authorities or Six Flags, local media footage showed passengers being evacuated from the Goliath coaster. Witness Logan Conner recounted observing the man come out of his seat while on the ride with his fiancée, describing the unsettling moment of making eye contact with him mid-air.
The Goliath roller-coaster, operational since 2006, boasts speeds up to 113 km/h and heights of 61 meters, offering riders a thrilling experience with sharp turns and colossal hills. Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, expressed condolences for the family’s loss and acknowledged the park’s significance in local tourism, drawing visitors from the southeastern region.
Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is conducting a thorough review of ride inspections following the tragic incident, with the park already scheduled for closure on Tuesday. This marks at least the seventh reported death at the Georgia park, with previous incidents, including a fatality in 2006 on the Goliath coaster due to a suspected heart attack.
In a separate development, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California recently announced the retirement of its X2 roller-coaster amid lawsuits alleging severe brain injuries caused by the ride. The park settled a wrongful-death lawsuit related to the coaster last year, while a similar tragic incident occurred at Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida in 2021, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old man due to blunt impact injuries ruled as an accident.
