Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old described as a beloved teacher and family man, has been identified as the victim who died after falling from the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, near Atlanta, on Monday afternoon local time. The tragedy has prompted the theme park group to temporarily shut down nine similar rides across North America and raised urgent questions about theme park ride safety.
Cobb County Police confirmed officers responded to an incident at the park at approximately 3.58 pm and found Kariem beneath the ride, unresponsive and not breathing. Four other people were also injured and taken to hospital, though authorities have not released details about their conditions.
Eyewitnesses describe horrifying moments
Harrowing accounts from bystanders paint a picture of a scene that unfolded with terrifying speed. Nick Mendenhall, who had just ridden the Goliath with his son and was watching coaster cars pass overhead, said it appeared at first as though the man was hovering in the air as the car moved beneath him.
"It felt like slow motion, but it happened in an instant," Mendenhall said. "I was just praying in those moments. I was praying: 'God, please let him stay in that car.'"
Mendenhall described watching Kariem fall headfirst back into the coaster before being ejected on its final turn. Other witnesses said people nearby reached out in an attempt to grab him, but there was too much force for anyone to hold on. Preliminary information gathered from witnesses and park employees indicated Kariem was ejected from the ride before striking other patrons and falling beneath the attraction.
Remarkably, the horror was also captured by cameras positioned along the track that are designed to take souvenir photographs of riders.
Emergency response and park evacuation
The rollercoaster was brought to an immediate halt following the incident. First responders evacuated passengers still on the ride and secured the area. Park management then made the decision to evacuate the entire theme park shortly afterwards.
Six Flags Over Georgia issued a statement expressing its condolences. "We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today," the statement read. "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones."
Restraint questions and the Goliath ride
Police have not confirmed what caused Kariem to leave his seat, and witness accounts have not established whether a restraint malfunction occurred. The Goliath reaches a height of around 60 metres and can travel at speeds of up to 113 kilometres per hour. Notably, the ride does not take passengers upside down and uses lap bars rather than seat belts to secure riders.
The coaster was built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard, which said it was investigating the incident. The company said it would not comment further until it had a clearer understanding of events, but noted: "Our thoughts are with the family and those affected."
Nine similar rides shut down across North America
In the wake of the fatality, the theme park group moved to temporarily close nine similar hypercoasters across six parks in the United States and Canada, stating it was acting out of an abundance of caution. Eight of those rides were also built by Bolliger and Mabillard.
The closures reflect the scale of the safety concerns triggered by the incident, with authorities and the manufacturer yet to establish the precise sequence of events that led to Kariem's death. Investigations are ongoing, and no formal findings have been released.
The tragedy comes as theme park safety standards continue to face scrutiny across the industry, with the outcome of investigations into the Goliath incident likely to have implications for how similar rides are managed at parks around the world.
