Six Flags Closes Several Rides After Man Dies On Goliath Rollercoaster

What was supposed to be a fun-filled day at an amusement park turned tragic after a man died while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. 

According to The New York Times, 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was ejected from his seat while riding the Goliath attraction. Kariem apparently hit the coaster three times as he fell, hitting other passengers, before landing on a haunted house attraction below. Kariem was on the ride with his son, with his wife and daughter watching from below. 

According to the Six Flags website, the roller coaster reaches speeds of 70 miles per hour and a height of 200 feet. In addition to Kariem’s death, four other passengers were injured. The extent and severity of their injuries are still unknown.

Cobb County Police Department said that Kariem was found “unresponsive and not breathing” when they arrived at Six Flags just after 4 p.m. on Monday. The accident caused the ride to stop on an incline, and rescue crews were brought in to evacuate passengers who were stuck on the ride.

Witnesses on the roller coaster described the experience to 11 Alive. “We were having a great time to just screaming ‘Oh my God, what is happening?’ ” a woman told the outlet. 

“He was in our pictures,” another witness told 11 Alive. “He fell and hit the car three different times.” He said the man’s body hit others on the ride before falling onto the roof of a haunted house attraction below. 

Representatives for Six Flags acknowledged the incident and said park officials and local authorities responded immediately, but declined to detail what led to the accident, citing privacy concerns for Kariem’s family. 

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected,” a Six Flags representative said in a statement.

Six Flags announced it closed Goliath at the Over Georgia location and has temporarily closed several rides at other locations out of “an abundance of caution.” 

The closures include Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, N.J., Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C., and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Kings Island, Ohio

Sadly, this is only the latest in a series of safety concerns for the amusement park chain. Three people who rode X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain have filed a lawsuit against Six Flags. The suit claims the company did not properly disclose to riders the safety risk that comes with the ride, and they have suffered severe brain damage as a result. The ride has been closed since July because of the lawsuit. 

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