Six Flags Over Georgia rollercoaster death kills rider, witnesses say

A fatal incident on the Goliath roller‑coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on 12 October has prompted the company to shut down nine similar attractions across six parks. The death of a rider and injuries to several others have reignited a debate over ride safety, as authorities investigate the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Witnesses at the amusement park, located about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta, reported seeing a man ejected from his seat on the Goliath. The victim was identified by the Cobb County Police Department as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta. The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Local time. Several other riders were injured, but the extent of their injuries remains unclear.

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Six Flags’ spokesperson said the company was “deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today.” The statement added that the park is providing support to guests and team members affected and is cooperating fully with local authorities. The company has temporarily closed nine rollercoasters at its other North American locations “out of an abundance of caution.”

The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit has launched an investigation. In a police statement, investigators said: “Several people were reported injured, and one person has died.” The department has not yet released the technical cause of the incident, and the park has stated it will not share additional details until the family’s privacy can be respected.

Video footage from the park’s security cameras shows the Goliath stopping mid‑ride, with riders being escorted off the track. Witnesses told local TV stations that the man fell from the coaster, struck other riders, and landed on the roof of a nearby haunted‑house attraction. One witness described seeing the victim hit the car three different times before falling. Another witness noted that the incident was captured on souvenir photos taken automatically during the ride.

The Goliath, which opened in 2006, reaches a height of 200 feet and speeds up to 70 mph. The incident marks the seventh death at the park, including a 2006 incident in which a man likely suffered a heart attack while riding the same coaster. The park’s website reports that the ride has operated for more than 3 ½ minutes, featuring “razor‑sharp turns and colossal hills.”

Industry context underscores the rarity of serious incidents. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) reports that the chance of a serious injury on a fixed‑site ride in the U.S. Is 1 in 15.5 million rides taken. IAAPA also notes that two‑thirds of injuries are attributed to guest‑related factors such as behavior or pre‑existing medical conditions. In 2024, the National Safety Council’s IAAPA ride‑safety report recorded 118 serious injuries and 1,360 other reportable injuries across North American fixed‑site amusement rides.

Six Flags has also announced the permanent retirement of its X2 roller‑coaster at Magic Mountain in California. The closure follows lawsuits alleging that more than 100 riders sustained brain injuries on the X2. The company had previously settled a wrongful‑death lawsuit from the family of a 22‑year‑old who died after riding the coaster in 2022. The X2 has been closed since July 12, a day after a plaintiff suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

While the investigation remains ongoing, authorities and the park are expected to release further details once the circumstances are fully understood. The temporary closures of nine rides across six parks are likely to continue until the investigation concludes, as Six Flags seeks to reassure guests and regulators alike. The incident has already prompted a broader conversation about ride safety, regulatory oversight, and the role of industry associations such as IAAPA in maintaining high safety standards.