Six Flags Over Georgia Reopens After Fatal Coaster Accident

Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen for regular weekend operations this Friday, October 16, following a fatal accident on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred when 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an IT manager and teacher for Atlanta Public Schools, was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster. Kariem died after striking other patrons and falling beneath the attraction; four juveniles sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the event.

John King, the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, is leading a joint inquiry with the Cobb County Police Department. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video, maintenance logs, and computer telemetry to determine if the accident resulted from mechanical failure, sensor error, or operator protocol. King stated that the investigation is the most serious the agency has conducted in a long time and vowed that no one will ride the attraction until it is verified as safe.

In response to the fatality, Six Flags has temporarily shut down nine similar hypercoasters across six theme parks in North America as a precaution. While the park itself is scheduled to reopen, the Goliath coaster remains closed indefinitely pending the results of the safety review.