COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Six Flags Over Georgia is set to reopen Friday as investigators work to determine what caused a 42-year-old man to fall from the Goliath roller coaster and die earlier this week.
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Hassan Kariem died Monday afternoon after falling from his seat on the ride. The incident has raised questions about ride safety as the park prepares to welcome guests again.
“There was just blood all over her,” one witness recalled, describing the traumatic aftermath of the incident.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which oversees amusement park inspections in the state, is actively investigating what happened.
Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, told Channel 2’s Eryn Rogers that the incident was highly unusual. Niles began his career working at attractions at Walt Disney World and has more than 25 years of experience in the industry.
“This is so rare. In fact, I would say even unprecedented,” Niles said.
He said investigators will need to examine the ride itself, speak with witnesses and review how the attraction was maintained and operated.
“This wasn’t obviously a case of something wrong with the guest. That there may have been something wrong with the ride,” Niles said. “This isn’t an incident of somebody being on a coaster who shouldn’t have been on that coaster, given the boarding restrictions or health requirements. This sounds like a freak accident that we will definitely need to get the results from an investigation to fully understand.”
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Niles said amusement parks typically conduct a test run of each ride every morning before opening to guests. However, he said the investigation will need to determine whether the ride was operating as intended and whether any maintenance or operational issues played a role.
He also emphasized the importance of transparency as investigators work to establish what happened.
“We’d really like to hear exactly what happened here and what the industry is going to do to try and prevent this sort of thing from ever happening again in the future,” Niles said.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions reported a modest increase in roller coaster injuries from 2023 to 2024. However, the organization says there are fewer than two reported injuries for every 1 million roller coaster rides taken.
According to the association, about 9% of injuries could be attributed to operational factors, while 15% were attributed to technical factors.
Bolliger & Mabillard, the manufacturer of Goliath and other roller coasters at Six Flags parks, said it is actively investigating the incident and declined to comment further until more information is available.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family and those affected,” Bolliger & Mabillard said.
Attorney Aura Taylor said investigators must first establish the facts before determining who could be held responsible.
“We have to look at what actually happened, then we go from there as to who’s really responsible,” Taylor said.
Niles also noted that the manufacturers have had a strong safety record with their roller coasters, making the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident particularly concerning.
“The manufacturers had an impeccable safety record with their roller coaster. So again, this is why a lot of people are questioning how could this possibly have happened,” Niles said.
The investigation could also lead to renewed discussion about additional safety measures on roller coasters, including seat belts along with lap restraints.
Niles said some popular rides, including Goliath, do not use those additional restraints. He said ride designers and operators often prioritize keeping lines moving efficiently, and additional restraints can add time to the process of loading and unloading guests.
He said the incident could prompt the industry to reconsider some of those decisions as more information becomes available.
Niles also expects maintenance crews to be especially vigilant following the incident. He said guests visiting the park when it reopens Friday could be there during a period of heightened attention to ride safety.
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