COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A fatal roller coaster accident at Six Flags Over Georgia is renewing calls for federal oversight of amusement park rides as safety advocates argue that protections should not depend on where a park operates.
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Attorney Kimberly Wald said the death of 42-year-old Hassan Kariem highlights what she sees as gaps in the current system of state-level amusement ride regulation.
“The first thing was, ‘Not again,’ right? Why are we still seeing this?” Wald said.
Wald, a partner with Florida-based Haggard Law, has previously pushed for stronger ride-safety requirements following the 2022 death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell from an amusement park ride in Florida.
“As soon as there are any modifications, it needs to have an inspection before it’s open and before a tragedy unfolds,” Wald said.
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Now, attention is turning to a federal proposal known as the Amusement Park Ride Safety Act.
Indiana Rep. André Carson sponsored the legislation in 2025, arguing that gaps remain in amusement park safety policies. The bill remains in the committee stage.
If passed, the legislation would expand the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s authority over permanent amusement park rides and provide federal oversight and funding for inspections and maintenance.
Wald said she believes establishing consistent safety requirements nationwide could help prevent future tragedies.
“There should be uniform standards,” Wald said. “It shouldn’t depend on the state, the size, the type of park, the type of ride.”
The renewed scrutiny follows last week’s fatal accident at Six Flags Over Georgia.
Following the incident, Six Flags closed some rides manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard at several of its properties. Rides in New Jersey, Illinois and Canada remain closed, along with Goliath in Georgia.
“This shouldn’t be the worst, most horrible day of someone’s life, and because of that, we have an obligation to make sure that these are safe and operating properly,” Wald said.
The state is leading the investigation and has said it will not comment while the investigation remains ongoing.
Channel 2 Action News also reached out to Carson for an interview, but he was not available.
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