Public Safety · Mableton, GA
Six Flags Over Georgia Reopens Friday Evening After Roller Coaster Death
Six Flags Over Georgia in Mableton reopened Friday evening following the Monday death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta school employee thrown from the Goliath roller coaster. The park's president Richard Pretlow issued a statement offering condolences and reaffirming safety commitments, while Cobb County police await state investigators' findings before deciding whether to pursue criminal charges. The Goliath coaster passed its latest annual state inspection in March with no violations, though 18 maintenance-related issues were found and corrected between 2016 and 2021. At least 11 roller coasters across the U.S. and Canada built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard with similar clamshell restraints have been temporarily closed pending review.