In brief
A 42‑year‑old visitor, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was killed after falling from the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Witnesses say he was tossed onto another cart before tumbling to the ground. The park has closed nine rides across North America as a safety precaution, and the state inspector’s office has opened a review. Kariem’s family described him as a devoted father, teacher and survivor of two bouts of cancer. The incident is being compared to past Six Flags accidents that have sparked legal and safety questions about amusement‑park operations.
Warning: This report contains graphic details of a fatal accident.
A 42‑year‑old visitor, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was killed after being ejected from the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. The incident occurred just before 4:00 p.m. local time, according to the Cobb County Police Department.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene: the man was seen rising from his seat, colliding with a cart before falling to the ground. One visitor, Nick Mendenhall, told the AP that the moments felt “super, super bizarre” and “traumatic.” Another, CiCi Nelson, reported seeing an empty seat, a loose safety bar, and a female rider covered in blood.
The Goliath rollercoaster, which the park said opened in 2006, is 200 ft tall, drops 170 ft, and can reach 70 mph. Six Flags confirmed the company was “deeply saddened” by the incident and pledged condolences to the victim’s family.
An investigation is underway, with the state’s insurance and fire safety commissioner reviewing all safety protocols. Six Flags has temporarily closed nine rides across the United States and Canada as a precautionary measure.
Kariem was a father and educator who had survived cancer twice, the last in 2018. He worked for more than a decade as an IT manager and robotics coach at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta. His death came just weeks after a car crash that injured his 10‑year‑old daughter.
This is the seventh fatality recorded at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to the Doan Law Firm. Two of the prior deaths involved medical emergencies, while others resulted from riders being struck or falling from the park’s attractions. The company’s broader network includes 20 amusement parks and 14 water parks worldwide.
Notification of the incident has not yet prompted a formal press conference. Authorities are awaiting further evidence, while the community grapples with the tragedy and questions the safety measures that allowed such an event to occur.
