COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen on Friday four days after a man fell off the Goliath roller coaster and died.
Hassan Kariem and his family were celebrating his niece’s 13th birthday at Six Flags on Monday when his family says he was thrown from the roller coaster. Cobb County police said they found Kariem unresponsive after he fell out of the ride and hit other passengers on the Goliath roller coaster.
The latest on the safety investigation, LIVE on Channel 2 Action News This Morning from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.
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The Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office says it has been working around the clock in its investigation into Kariem’s death. While Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen Friday, the Goliath roller coaster will not.
“We owe it to the Kariem family, to everyone affected by this tragedy, and to the people of our great state to find out exactly what happened,” Commissioner John King’s office said in a statement. “Under Georgia’s amusement ride safety regulations, any ride involved in an accident resulting in a fatality or serious injury must remain out of service until OCI has conducted a full investigation.”
Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell asked park officials if the other roller coasters have been inspected this week or if additional safety checks will be conducted before the reopening but hasn’t heard back.
Cobb County police, who are leading the law enforcement investigation, is expected to hold a news conference sometime Friday afternoon.
Six Flags Over Georgia gates open at 6 p.m.
HASSAN KARIEM REMEMBERED AS FATHER, HUSBAND AND EDUCATOR
Atlanta Public Schools confirmed that Kariem was a “cherished” employee at Wesley International Academy.
Kariem worked at the school for more than a decade, first as a technology teacher, then as an IT manager. He also volunteered his time as a coach for the school’s robotics team.
A family friend told Channel 2 Action News that the Atlanta Public Schools educator was also a cancer survivor and overcame a tough battle with COVID-19.
Weeks before his death, Kariem and his daughter walked away unharmed following a car fire.
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WHEN WAS THE GOLIATH ROLLER COASTER LAST INSPECTED?
The Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office said Goliath’s most recent state inspection took place on March 16, 2026. According to the agency, inspectors reported no violations, deficiencies, citations or red flags.
However, records released through an open records request show inspectors noted during the March inspection that bushings needed to be replaced.
Bushings are components used in machinery to help reduce vibration and friction. The records provided do not establish that the bushings were connected to the roller coaster’s restraint system or played a role in the fatal incident.
“As part of the ongoing investigation, OCI is conducting a full review of relevant inspection, permitting, and incident-report records,” the agency said.
Inspection reports from 2024 and 2025 also indicated no violations were reported.
State regulators and industry standards require amusement rides to undergo maintenance and inspections. Whether worn bushings could affect a roller coaster’s lap-bar restraint system would depend on where the bushings are located and their function within the manufacturer’s design.
OCI has not released details about whether the Goliath’s lap-bar restraint system malfunctioned when 42-year-old Hassan Kariem flew from the ride.
OCI said Goliath will remain closed while the investigation continues. The agency will determine if and when the roller coaster can reopen.
- Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln
ARE OTHER RIDES AT SIX FLAGS CLOSED?
After Kariem’s death on the Goliath roller coaster Monday, Six Flags company shut down nine other rides around the country:
- Six Flags Magic Mountain - Goliath
- Six Flags Great America - Raging Bull
- Six Flags Great Adventure - Nitro
- Canada’s Wonderland - Leviathan
- Canada’s Wonderland - Behemoth
- Carowinds - Fury 325
- Carowinds - Thunder Striker
- Kings Island - Orion
- Kings Island - Diamondback
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks,” a Six Flags spokeswoman said Monday. “The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities.”
Channel 2 Action News reached back out to Six Flags representatives on Friday morning and asked if any of those nine rides are back open.
It’s unclear when Six Flags Over Georgia reopens on Friday if any other rides besides Goliath will be closed. We’re checking into that as well.
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