Public Safety · Austell, GA
Six Flags Over Georgia Reopens Friday; Goliath Coaster Remains Closed After Fatal Fall
A growing number of amusement parks have shut down 12 roller coasters as police and a state regulatory agency investigate the death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta school employee who fell from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell on Monday. Ten of the halted coasters share the same manufacturer (Bolliger & Mabillard) and a similar "clamshell" restraint system as the Goliath. Witnesses described seeing Kariem ejected from his seat; some riders who used the ride earlier reported problems with restraints not locking properly. Six Flags Over Georgia is set to reopen on Friday, but the Goliath coaster is not expected to be operating. A 2025 class-action lawsuit filed by investors alleges Six Flags concealed poor maintenance across its parks ahead of a merger with Cedar Fair.