MABLETON, Ga. — A fatal fall from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia has prompted a state investigation into what caused a 42-year-old rider’s death.
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Investigators with the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are working to determine whether the incident involved a mechanical malfunction, a failure of the ride’s restraint system, operator error or another cause.
“What happened? Was there a malfunction?” asked personal injury attorney Aura Taylor, who said those are among the key questions investigators will seek to answer.
Taylor noted that amusement parks operating in Georgia are subject to state regulations that require daily and annual inspections of rides.
“So all of those things are required by law and should be happening consistently,” Taylor told Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln.
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The inspections are conducted through the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which is leading the investigation into how 42-year-old Hassan Kariem fell from the roller coaster.
“That’s why I believe a lot of the investigation is going to be centered around that restraint system and really figuring out what went wrong,” Taylor said.
Goliath opened in 2006 and was built by Swiss ride manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, commonly known as B&M. The company also built Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Over Georgia and Fury 325 at Carowinds in North Carolina.
Taylor said investigators will likely examine whether inspection procedures were properly followed and whether any equipment or manufacturing issues contributed to the accident.
“What exactly went wrong? And that’s why the investigation piece is so important here,” she said.
The fatal incident marks a rare occurrence at the Austell amusement park.
Since Six Flags Over Georgia opened in 1967, just six deaths have been reported at the park. Monday’s incident was the first reported death involving a rider falling from a roller coaster.
Court records show Six Flags has faced previous injury-related lawsuits.
In 2022, a man sued Six Flags Entertainment after he said he was thrown from his seat on the Thunder River ride and suffered injuries to his arm, neck and back. The case was later dismissed with prejudice.
In a separate case, Six Flags settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged she fell from the Acrophobia ride in 2018 and suffered severe injuries after hitting the concrete. Court documents alleged a park employee failed to properly secure her restraint before the ride began.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to both Six Flags Entertainment and Bolliger & Mabillard for comment but had not received a response.
“Anytime you go to an amusement park, you’re looking for fun and you’re looking for a thrill, but you’re absolutely not looking for the type of event that took place yesterday,” Taylor said.
Inspection reports for amusement rides are not publicly available online. Channel 2 Action News has filed an open records request seeking the inspection records for Goliath.
In a statement, state officials said they could not comment on the case while the investigation remains ongoing.
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