Family of man who died on Six Flags ride pleads for disturbing images to be removed
The family of Hassan Kariem, 42, who died on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, are devastated and struggling to cope with the viral sharing of graphic photos of his final moments.
The family of Hassan Kariem, 42, who died on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, have pleaded for the public to stop sharing gruesome images of his final moments. Kariem, a teacher at Atlanta's Wesley International Academy, was riding the roller coaster with his son when the accident occurred. His wife and young daughter were nearby.
It remains unclear how Kariem fell from the ride. Witnesses reported that he was ejected from his seat, striking the ride's metal frame multiple times as he fell to the ground. Six Flags Over Georgia is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, though the Goliath ride has been closed indefinitely. Witnesses stated that they were covered in Kariem's blood following the incident, which happened just as the roller coaster's camera captures souvenir photos of riders. Images appearing to show Kariem falling and hitting the ride have since circulated widely on social media. His family has urged people to cease sharing these photos due to their distressing nature.
Kariem's cousin, Elicia Day, shared in a video on social media that the family has been left heartbroken. She described the loss as beyond words. Day noted that Kariem had also recently survived a fiery car crash with his daughter just three weeks prior, which destroyed their car but thankfully resulted in no injuries.
Authorities have not yet released a cause for the accident, and an investigation is underway. Six Flags temporarily closed the Goliath ride and over 10 other roller coasters nationwide out of an abundance of caution following the tragedy. A Six Flags spokesperson stated that the company is cooperating fully with local authorities and is providing support to those affected by the incident.
The Goliath roller coaster reaches speeds of up to 70 mph and climbs over 200 feet, making it the tallest roller coaster in Georgia. Theme park experts have described such an incident as incredibly rare, suggesting it may have been a freak accident rather than a guest-related issue. The Atlanta Public Schools district remembered Kariem as a beloved educator and technology professional whose impact will be deeply missed.