Particle.news
Get it on Google Play
Download on the App Store
13 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

Rider Thrown From Six Flags’ Goliath Dies as Multiple Hypercoasters Remain Closed for Review

State investigators alongside the ride maker are examining the lap‑bar restraint, maintenance records and operating checks to determine what caused the ejection.

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Attractions at Six Flags Over Georgia, Image 2 shows Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem wearing an Atlanta hat and a yellow graphic t-shirt, Image 3 shows An aerial view of the Goliath roller coaster train stopped on the track at Six Flags Over Georgia
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • A 42-year-old man, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster and found beneath the ride after the Oct. 12 trip, prompting a Cobb County police inquiry and a state safety review.
  • Six Flags temporarily closed nine to 12 similar hypercoasters at several parks and some competitors closed matching rides as a precaution while no mechanical defect has been publicly identified.
  • The ride maker Bolliger & Mabillard is conducting its own review and Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner described its work as an in‑depth, comprehensive examination.
  • Recent reporting and court filings cite prior failures at Six Flags parks, including broken restraint bars, derailments and injury reports, and investor lawsuits allege deferred maintenance and staffing cuts after a 2024 merger.
  • The incident has renewed scrutiny of U.S. oversight for fixed-site coasters, highlighting a patchwork of state rules, reliance on industry ASTM guidance and possible operational changes that could affect inspections, staffing and park offerings.