Six Flags Over Georgia investigates fatal Goliath roller coaster accident

Six Flags Over Georgia is facing scrutiny following the death of 42-year-old teacher Hassan Kariem, who was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster on Monday. The incident, which also resulted in injuries to four children, led to the park's temporary closure for four days.

Witnesses reported that the Goliath coaster had been briefly closed for maintenance hours before the fatal accident, with staff citing a wasp nest as the reason for the delay. One witness noted that a park employee was seen conducting a test run during this period. Other riders on the coaster during the accident reported hearing “weird clicking” and observed staff checking restraints multiple times.

In response to the tragedy, the park has renamed its Halloween event from “Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party” to “Dr. Fright’s Party” out of respect for the victim's family. While the park has resumed general operations, the Goliath coaster remains padlocked and closed. As a precaution, sister coasters sharing the same design lineage have been grounded at several other Six Flags locations across the United States and Canada.

The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are currently investigating the cause of the fall.