Man Dies After Falling from Goliath Roller Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia

A 42-year-old man died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on 12 October 2026. Police identified the victim as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta. Officers found him unresponsive beneath the ride shortly before 4 p.m. local time. Several other riders were injured when he struck them during the fall.

Cobb County Police said preliminary information from witnesses and employees indicates Kariem came loose from his seat, hit other patrons, and then fell onto the roof of a nearby attraction. The Goliath reaches 70 mph and a height of 200 feet. The ride was stopped, and remaining passengers were assisted off by park staff. The major crimes unit is investigating. Georgia's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is also reviewing compliance with amusement-park rules.

Six Flags closed the Goliath at the Georgia park and nine similar roller coasters at six other North American locations out of caution. A company spokesperson said staff and local authorities responded immediately and that the park is cooperating with the investigation. Kariem worked as the information technology manager at Wesley International Academy, a public charter school in Atlanta. The school described him as a valued staff member.

Witnesses told local television stations they saw the man leave his seat and strike the coaster cars multiple times before falling. Souvenir photographs taken automatically during the ride captured portions of the sequence. No official cause has been released for how the restraint failed or whether a mechanical or operational issue contributed. The park has not disclosed the condition of the injured riders.

Amusement-park fatalities remain rare relative to the number of rides taken each year, yet each incident prompts immediate operational reviews. Six Flags has faced previous deaths and injuries at its properties. The company statement expressed sorrow and said additional details would not be shared out of respect for the family. Investigators will examine restraint systems, maintenance records, and ride-operator procedures.

The temporary closures affect parks in the United States and Canada that operate coasters of comparable design. Reopening will depend on the findings of the police and state safety reviews. For now, the Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia remains closed, and the park continues to operate its other attractions.

Kariem's death is the latest in a short list of roller-coaster fatalities recorded at the Georgia park since it opened in 1967. The investigation will determine whether the incident resulted from equipment failure, human error, or another factor. Results are expected to guide any changes to inspection protocols across the Six Flags chain.