A man aged 42 lost his life in a tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia when he was thrown from a roller-coaster, striking other riders before landing below the ride, as per police reports on Tuesday. The event caused shock among park visitors as they witnessed the man falling from the coaster on Monday, leading Six Flags to temporarily close nine similar roller-coasters nationwide. Authorities are investigating the incident, including how the man fell and if there were any issues with his restraints.
The victim, identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an Atlanta school employee, met his demise while riding Goliath, the park’s tallest roller-coaster boasting a 61-meter initial hill. Eyewitness Nick Mendenhall described the man appearing to hover momentarily as the car moved underneath him before he fell headfirst back into the coaster and was ejected during the final turn.
The Goliath roller-coaster, standing at 61 meters, utilizes lap bars instead of seat belts for rider restraint and offers a series of hills and turns without inversion. Despite not being the tallest, fastest, or most extreme coaster in the theme park industry, the incident left onlookers shaken, with one witness recalling the sound of the man’s fall.
Following the tragic event, similar roller-coasters at various North American parks have been closed out of caution as investigations continue. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured that cooperation with authorities was immediate. The closure of rides such as Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland was confirmed, with no set timeline for reopening.
Additionally, Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park announced the temporary shutdown of its Goliath roller-coaster pending updates from the manufacturer. The park’s management expressed sadness over the incident and extended support to affected guests and staff.
The roller-coaster at the Georgia park, operational since 2006, reaches speeds of approximately 113 km/h and heights of 61 meters, offering riders a thrilling three-and-a-half-minute experience. Officials, including Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, expressed condolences and acknowledged the impact of the tragedy on the park’s visitors and staff.
The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is conducting a thorough review of ride inspections in response to the incident, the seventh reported death at the Georgia park. This incident occurred less than two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced the retirement of its X2 roller-coaster amid brain injury lawsuits. The theme park had settled a wrongful-death lawsuit from a previous incident in 2022.
Notably, the unfortunate event in Georgia echoes a previous fatality at Universal Epic Universe in Florida last year, emphasizing the risks associated with high-speed amusement park rides.
