Author: FFP Ai Bot

Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia (file photo). Photo: Coasterman1234, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goliath_(Six_Flags_Over_Georgia)_05.JPG). Overlay added by FFP; this adapted image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Six Flags says it will add seat belts to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and to “other coasters with a similar restraint,” 11 days after a 42-year-old Atlanta man was thrown from the ride and killed. Goliath remains closed with no reopening date, and eight more roller coasters at five other Six Flags parks in the U.S. and Canada are still shut down as a precaution, including Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island near Cincinnati.

The announcement came Friday, Oct. 23, in a letter to guests and passholders from Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly. He also said the company has hired independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures for every ride at every park. “I know trust is earned through actions and not words,” Reilly wrote. “As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally.”

No cause has been announced. Georgia’s ride safety regulator and Cobb County police are still investigating, and the state says Goliath cannot run again until it decides when, and under what conditions, the ride may reopen.

Where things stand tonight

• Goliath, Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell, Ga.): Closed and “secured” since Oct. 12. Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) controls when it may reopen.
• Still closed as a precaution (eight coasters at five parks): Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio; Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill.; Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J.; Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C.; and Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario. Six Flags has not given reopening dates.
• Reopened: Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., a different coaster from a different manufacturer, reopened after about a two-day review. Reports differ on whether it reopened Oct. 15 or Oct. 16. Outside Six Flags, SeaWorld Orlando reopened its similar Mako coaster on Oct. 20.
• Parks are open: Six Flags says all of its parks remain open through Halloween weekend, with more than 220 roller coasters running.
• Seat belts: Six Flags has not said exactly which coasters will get new seat belts or when.

Cedar Point in Sandusky was not on the closure list. Ohio’s Department of Agriculture, which inspects rides in Ohio, told WSAZ it was in proactive conversations with Kings Island and Cedar Point after the Georgia death.

What happened on Oct. 12

Cobb County police said officers were called to Six Flags Over Georgia at about 3:58 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12. Police later identified the man who died as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta. “Preliminary information gathered through witness and employee interviews indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction,” the department said. Officers found him unresponsive beneath the ride.

Four other riders were hurt. Police said all four were juveniles who were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening. Their names and ages have not been released.

Witnesses told NBC affiliate WXIA that the ride stopped after the fall, and video showed riders being evacuated from a train that had stopped on the track and walking down a steep incline. Atlanta Public Schools said Kariem worked at Wesley International Academy, a public charter school, where he was the IT manager. His family has remembered him as a devoted educator who cared about his community. Relatives told reporters he was at the park to celebrate a family birthday.

It was the second death connected to Goliath since the ride opened. In July 2006, a 45-year-old man was found unresponsive at the end of a ride, and authorities at the time attributed his death to an apparent heart attack, The Associated Press reported then.

Diamondback at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, one of two Kings Island coasters closed as a precaution (file photo). Photo: rollercoasterphilosophy (Flickr), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamondback_Kings_Island.jpg).

Timeline

• 2006: Goliath, a Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) “hyper coaster,” opens at Six Flags Over Georgia. It climbs 200 feet and reaches 70 mph. On July 27, 2006, a rider dies of what authorities believed was a heart attack; the ride is inspected and reopened.
• 2022: Christopher Hawley, 22, dies a day after riding X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. His family later sued and settled for an undisclosed amount, the Los Angeles Times reported.
• 2024: Six Flags merges with Cedar Fair, bringing parks such as Kings Island, Cedar Point, Carowinds and Canada’s Wonderland under the Six Flags name.
• March 16, 2026: Georgia’s annual state inspection of Goliath finds no violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags, according to OCI.
• July to September 2026: X2 at Magic Mountain closes in July after injury reports and lawsuits, and the park announces in September that it is closed permanently.
• Oct. 12: Kariem is killed on Goliath and four juveniles are hurt. The same day, Six Flags says it has closed nine similar rides at six other parks “out of an abundance of caution.”
• Oct. 13: Cobb County police identify Kariem. Six Flags lists the closed coasters. B&M tells Newsweek it is “deeply saddened” by the accident. SeaWorld Orlando closes Mako as a precaution.
• Oct. 14: Police confirm the four injured riders were minors. Six Flags Over Georgia says it will reopen Friday as scheduled, without Goliath. Witness accounts in other outlets describe unusual restraint sounds and earlier maintenance on the ride; investigators have not confirmed any of them.
• Oct. 15: OCI Commissioner John F. King says the March inspection found no violations and that state investigators and engineers are “working day and night.” A mother tells the AP that her son had trouble with a restraint that kept unlocking about an hour before the fatal ride; that account has not been verified by investigators. La Ronde in Montreal, under separate ownership, confirms its own Goliath, a sister B&M ride, is closed for a safety review. WSB-TV reports the March inspection noted “bushings” needed replacing.
• Oct. 15 or 16: Magic Mountain’s Goliath reopens.
• Oct. 16: Cobb County leaders hold a news conference. A deputy police chief says investigators do not yet have enough information to say whether criminal charges are possible. Six Flags Over Georgia reopens for Fright Fest that evening.
• Oct. 20: SeaWorld Orlando reopens Mako.
• Oct. 22: CBS News reports, citing a person familiar with the park’s operations, that the bushings noted in March were on the ride’s wheel assemblies, not the restraints, and were replaced as recommended.
• Oct. 23: Six Flags announces seat belts for Goliath and similar coasters and a company-wide independent safety review. Goliath and the eight other coasters remain closed.

The investigation

Two agencies are investigating. Cobb County police are leading the law enforcement side through the department’s Major Crimes Unit. Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which permits and inspects amusement rides in Georgia, is running its own review of the ride and whether state safety rules were followed.

In an Oct. 15 update, OCI said its investigators and engineers have been at the park since shortly after the death, examining “the ride, its operation, and records.” Under Georgia’s ride safety rules, a ride involved in an accident that causes a death or serious injury must stay out of service until OCI finishes a full investigation.

“This is not an investigation in which we will cut corners, rush to conclusions, or leave questions unanswered without making every effort to resolve them,” King said. He said the office will release its findings when the investigation is complete and will “take the appropriate actions authorized under Georgia law” if it finds violations.

Police have asked anyone with information to call the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945.

What investigators are looking at

Goliath’s trains seat 36 riders, each held by an individual padded “clamshell” lap bar that locks over the thighs and waist. Unlike most of the other closed coasters, Goliath had no seat belt as a backup. WCPO reported that Diamondback has had seat belts since 2014 and Orion has had them since it opened in 2020. WRDW reported that six of Six Flags’ nine B&M hyper and giga coasters already had seat belts, while three, including Goliath, did not.

Experts who spoke with CBS News said investigators will look at maintenance, design and operations, including whether staff properly checked restraints and followed the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. A ride inspection engineer told CBS that even a small problem with a bushing could matter, while a person familiar with the park said the bushings noted in March were not part of the restraint system. CBS also interviewed former ride operators at the Georgia park who described pressure to keep Goliath’s lines moving and rushed training. Six Flags said its operators complete “a comprehensive, multi-stage training program.”

None of those accounts is a finding. Officials have not said whether a restraint failed, whether there was a mechanical problem or whether anything else played a role.

Orion at Kings Island, a B&M giga coaster that opened in 2020, seen from above (file photo). Photo: DD Lover, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_(Kings_Island)_5.jpg).

The coasters that were closed

Six Flags never fully explained how it picked the rides, other than calling them “similar.” All but one are B&M hyper or giga coasters with the same style of lap bar:

• Raging Bull, Six Flags Great America, Illinois: opened 1999, 202 feet tall, 73 mph.
• Nitro, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey: opened 2001, 230 feet, 80 mph.
• Behemoth, Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario: opened 2008, 230 feet, 77 mph.
• Diamondback, Kings Island, Ohio: opened 2009, 230 feet, 80 mph.
• Thunder Striker (formerly Intimidator), Carowinds, North Carolina: opened 2010, 232 feet, 80 mph.
• Leviathan, Canada’s Wonderland: opened 2012, 306-foot drop, 92 mph.
• Fury 325, Carowinds: opened 2015, 325 feet, 95 mph.
• Orion, Kings Island: opened 2020, 300-foot drop, 91 mph.
• Goliath, Six Flags Magic Mountain, California (reopened): opened 2000, built by the now-defunct Swiss company Giovanola, the only non-B&M ride on the list.

Ride statistics are from Attractions Magazine’s comparison of the closed coasters. Other parks with B&M hyper coasters, including SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Williamsburg, have reopened theirs, Theme Park Insider reported.

How rides are regulated

There is no single federal inspector for permanent theme park rides. Oversight is left largely to the states, and the rules vary, The Associated Press reported. In Georgia, OCI must inspect stationary rides before they first open and at least once a year after that, and state rules require daily checks by qualified park staff before rides operate.

In Ohio, rides are permitted and inspected by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Amusement Ride Safety, which says its inspectors complete more than 5,000 inspections each year. A spokesperson told WSAZ that Diamondback and Orion “also have a secondary restraint system (seatbelt) that the Georgia ride did not.”

Serious ride accidents remain rare. Industry consultant Dennis Speigel told the Los Angeles Times that North American parks see nearly 2 billion rides a year, and Six Flags says guests took more than 1 billion rides at its parks over the past four years.

Lawsuits and charges

No lawsuit over Kariem’s death had been reported as of Friday night. Cobb County police said it is too early to say whether criminal charges could result, and that their investigation will wrap up after the state’s review is complete.

What’s next

• OCI will release its findings when its investigation ends and decide when, and under what conditions, Goliath may run again. No timeline has been given.
• Six Flags says it will keep sharing updates, including the results of its independent safety review.
• The eight precautionary closures remain in place with no reopening dates. Kings Island told WCPO it has no timeline for Orion and Diamondback.

If you are heading to a park

• Check the park’s website or app for ride closures before you go. Kings Island lists closures on its “Scheduled Ride Closures” page.
• Follow posted height, weight and body-size rules, and let a ride attendant know right away if a restraint does not feel locked or keeps releasing.
• Keep hands, arms and loose items inside the ride, and stay seated until the ride stops completely.
• Report any ride problem to park staff. In Ohio, concerns can also be raised with the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Amusement Ride Safety.

This is a developing story. FFP will update it as investigators release findings or Six Flags reopens the closed coasters.

Sources

Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire: Commissioner King Provides Update on Extensive Investigation into Six Flags Tragedy (Oct. 15, 2026) – https://oci.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-10-15/commissioner-king-provides-update-extensive-investigation-six-flags
Six Flags Over Georgia: Park Update, letter from CEO John Reilly (Oct. 23, 2026) and park statement (Oct. 13, 2026) – https://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/park-update
NBC News: Georgia police identify man who fatally fell off Six Flags roller coaster (Oct. 12-13, 2026) – https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/six-flags-georgia-death-guests-say-man-fell-roller-coaster-rcna603097
ABC News: Six Flags temporarily closes 9 other roller coasters after fatal incident in Georgia (Oct. 13, 2026) – https://abcnews.com/US/flags-temporarily-closes-9-roller-coasters-after-fatal/story?id=137225790
ABC News: Six Flags Over Georgia to reopen as planned Friday as Goliath coaster remains closed (Oct. 14, 2026) – https://abcnews.com/US/flags-georgia-reopen-planned-friday-goliath-coaster-remains/story?id=137265098
ABC News: Most recent inspection of Six Flags roller coaster involved in fatal fall found no violations (Oct. 15, 2026) – https://abcnews.com/US/recent-inspection-flags-roller-coaster-involved-fatal-fall/story?id=137292245
The Associated Press: Six Flags closes 9 North American roller coasters after families watch man fall to his death – https://apnews.com/article/six-flags-georgia-roller-coaster-death-a9ce45f681772b828f7b5d3c59d010d1
The Associated Press: More roller coasters shut down as authorities investigate fatal fall at Georgia amusement park – https://apnews.com/article/roller-coaster-death-f4c85fc180f2577e6290c105f9e6effa
The Associated Press: Georgia amusement park reopens days after roller coaster death (Oct. 16, 2026) – https://apnews.com/article/georgia-six-flags-roller-coaster-death-2647d9dd4a34f82f15e5c181e8c55050
CBS News: What the Six Flags Over Georgia death investigation will focus on (updated Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/six-flags-georgia-roller-coaster-death-investigation/
CBS News Atlanta: Man killed on Six Flags’ Goliath roller coaster latest deadly incident at Georgia theme park (Oct. 13, 2026) – https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/six-flags-over-georgia-goliath-deaths-update-investigation/
Los Angeles Times: Six Flags Magic Mountain shuts down second coaster amid safety concerns (Oct. 13, 2026) – https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-13/six-flags-magic-mountain-coaster-shutdown
Globe via Yahoo News: Six Flags reopens California Goliath coaster after 2-day inspection (Oct. 19, 2026) – https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/six-flags-reopens-california-goliath-204426568.html
WCPO: When will Kings Island’s Orion and Diamondback reopen? – https://www.wcpo.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/when-will-kings-islands-orion-and-diamondback-reopen
WSAZ: Safety questions at nearby amusement parks after Georgia death (Oct. 13, 2026) – https://www.wsaz.com/2026/10/13/safety-questions-nearby-amusement-parks-after-georgia-death/
WRDW: Six Flags Over Georgia adding seatbelts to Goliath after man’s death (Oct. 24, 2026) – https://www.wrdw.com/2026/10/24/six-flags-over-georgia-adding-seatbelts-goliath-after-mans-death/
Theme Park Insider: Six Flags to add seat belts to more coasters after fatality (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202610/12725/
Attractions Magazine: Six Flags Goliath tragedy, live updates (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://attractionsmagazine.com/six-flags-goliath-tragedy-live-updates-coaster-investigation/
Attractions Magazine: What the closed roller coasters have in common – https://attractionsmagazine.com/six-flags-goliath-death-georgia-compare-roller-coasters/
Newsweek: List of Bolliger and Mabillard coasters in Six Flags parks – https://www.newsweek.com/six-flags-death-goliath-rollercoaster-closed-12562867
KSAT: Fiesta Texas coasters not on Six Flags’ closure list (Oct. 13, 2026) – https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/10/13/fiesta-texas-coasters-not-on-six-flags-closure-list-after-georgia-death/
WIS/AP: Second roller coaster death this week (July 28, 2006) – https://www.wistv.com/story/5210427/second-roller-coaster-death-this-week/
Photo credits: Photo: Coasterman1234, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goliath_(Six_Flags_Over_Georgia)_05.JPG) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goliath_(Six_Flags_Over_Georgia)_05.JPG
Photo credits: Photo: rollercoasterphilosophy (Flickr), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamondback_Kings_Island.jpg) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamondback_Kings_Island.jpg
Photo credits: Photo: DD Lover, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_(Kings_Island)_5.jpg) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_(Kings_Island)_5.jpg