Six Flags Over Georgia Reopens Amid Ongoing Investigation of Fatal Roller-Coaster Incident

On Monday, a 42-year-old teacher, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was ejected from the park’s “hypercoaster” Goliath and died after striking other riders and falling beneath the structure. The incident left four minors injured. Six Flags Over Georgia reopened its gates on Friday for the scheduled Fright Fest evening, but Goliath remained closed while state and local investigations continue.

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Goliath, a steel hypercoaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, opened in 2006. It reaches a top speed of 70 mph, climbs to 200 feet, and lasts about 3½ minutes. Following the fatal ejection, Six Flags temporarily suspended nine similar coasters across six U.S. and Canadian parks as a precaution.

USA Today

• Ride specifications: 200 ft height, 70 mph top speed, 210-second duration.

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• Inspection record: The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) performed its most recent inspection on March 16, 2026 and reported no violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags. Earlier inspections (2016-2021) documented 18 safety violations unrelated to restraints, all corrected within days.

CNN

• Maintenance notes: The 2026 inspection flagged the need to replace bushings, components that reduce vibration.

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Georgia safety-fire Commissioner John King confirmed the March 16 inspection findings and said OCI is conducting a full review of inspection, permitting, and incident-report records. Six Flags park president Richard Pretlow expressed that the park is “deeply saddened” and reaffirmed a commitment to safety, noting that all other attractions will operate under normal conditions. Six Flags corporate stated that “Safety is at the center of everything we do.”

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Local resident Billy Giles questioned the decision to resume operations so soon, suggesting that profit considerations might outweigh guest safety concerns.

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Investigators have not disclosed the mechanical or procedural cause of the ejection. While the OCI inspection found no violations, CNN analysis highlighted prior maintenance issues and documented injuries on other Six Flags rides. Witnesses reported that the restraint on an empty seat appeared loose, but officials have not confirmed whether a restraint failure contributed to the fatal fall.

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• “Goliath’s most recent OCI inspection occurred on March 16, 2026. No violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags were reported during that inspection,” — John King, safety fire commissioner

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• “While serious incidents of this nature are exceedingly rare, we never take responsibility to our guests for granted and remain committed to continuously strengthening our operations and safety practices,” — Richard Pretlow, Georgia park president

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Commissioner King announced a news conference next week to provide an update on the investigation. Cobb County officials indicated that criminal charges, if any, will be considered after the state investigation concludes. The status of Goliath’s reopening will depend on the findings of the ongoing safety review.

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