Full Breakdown
Fatal Ejection on Goliath Roller Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Monday, a 42-year-old rider, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was thrown from his seat on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta. Police said he struck other patrons before falling onto a roof beneath the ride and later died. Several other guests were injured, though the exact number and severity have not been released.
Background & Context
Goliath, a “hyper-coaster” built by Bolliger & Mabillard, opened in 2006. It reaches 200 feet (61 m) and a top speed of 70 mph (113 km/h) during a 3½-minute ride. The Georgia park, operating since 1967, has recorded at least seven prior deaths since 1989, including a 2006 fatal heart attack on the same coaster, according to the Doan Law Firm.
On-the-Ground Witness Accounts
- Logan Conner, riding with his fiancée, described the victim “levitating in the air sideways” and said they made eye contact as he fell.
- Summer Bates recalled the sound of the body hitting the ground as “horrific to watch.”
Official Statements & Responses
- Cobb County Police Department confirmed the fatality and that a major-crimes unit is investigating.
- Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, said the victim’s next of kin have been notified.
- Garrison Bennett, spokesperson for Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, announced an “in-depth and comprehensive review” of ride safety.
- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens expressed sorrow for the loss of life.
- Six Flags’ stock fell more than 14 % after the incident, briefly dropping below $10 per share.
The rides closed alongside Goliath include: Goliath (Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA), Raging Bull (Six Flags Great America, IL), Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure, NJ), Fury 325 and Thunder Striker (Carowinds, NC), Leviathan and Behemoth (Canada’s Wonderland, ON), Orion and Diamondback (Kings Island, OH).
Data & Statistics
- Goliath’s specifications: 200 ft height, 70 mph speed, 3.5-minute duration.
- The Georgia park has recorded at least seven coaster-related deaths since 1989, per the Doan Law Firm.
- Six Flags operates over 100 rides nationwide; nine were shut down following this incident.
- The company’s share price fell more than 14 % to $10.23 after markets opened on Tuesday.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- No official explanation has been provided for how the rider became dislodged from the lap-bar restraint; sources differ on whether a mechanical failure or rider error was involved.
- The number of injured guests and the nature of their injuries remain unspecified.
- Six Flags has not detailed the criteria for selecting the specific coasters that were halted.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” — Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman
- “One thing I think that will stick with us is the sound of his body coming down.” — Summer Bates, park visitor