Man Dies After Fall From Six Flags Goliath Roller Coaster
Incident prompts closure of similar rides nationwide as investigation into Atlanta park fatality begins.
Callum Smith
A man died Monday after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
The victim, identified as 42-year-old Atlanta resident Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was riding with his son when the incident occurred.
Kariem, an IT specialist and father of two, was on a family trip when the tragedy unfolded.
First responders were called to the scene at approximately 4pm local time; park staff and local authorities responded immediately.
Several other individuals sustained injuries during the incident, now under investigation by the Cobb County Police Department.
Witnesses reportedly saw the man briefly levitate off his seat, making eye contact with other riders.
Logan Conner, a witness, stated, "The man started levitating in the air sideways. We made direct eye contact with him."
The man started levitating in the air sideways. We made direct eye contact with him.
Following the fatality, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has closed similar rides at other parks as a precautionary measure.
The Mako at SeaWorld Orlando has also reportedly been closed.
Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, confirmed the man's next of kin has been notified.
Cupid expressed profound sorrow, stating, "We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories."
She added, "'I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one.'"
We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories. I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one.
The Goliath, a hypercoaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, opened in 2006 and features a height or drop between 200 and 299 feet.
At least seven fatalities have occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia since 1989; another death on the Goliath in 2006 was attributed to a heart attack and a congenital heart condition.
Amusement park safety has faced scrutiny previously; a U.S. Army veteran reportedly lost both legs after being thrown from a roller coaster at Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort in 2011.
In 2003, a locomotive reportedly broke loose on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster at Disneyland, killing one man and injuring others.
Six Flags Magic Mountain's X2 ride, a fourth-dimension rollercoaster with seats that rotate 360 degrees independently, has also been subject to lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries.
Naomi Greer-Wilkinson reportedly collapsed after riding the X2 and remains in a coma.
The Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg experienced two significant malfunctions since its 2007 debut, including stopping mid-run in 2024 and trapping parkgoers for over two hours.
Video footage reportedly shows passengers being evacuated from the park’s Goliath coaster.
Six Flags Over Georgia was expected to reopen on Friday due to its offseason schedule.