Father-of-Two Falls to His Death From Six Flags Roller Coaster Amid Reports of 'Clicking' Restraints
Witnesses claim the safety restraints on the Goliath ride had been making unusual noises before the fatal incident.
A father of two died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, with witnesses reporting that the ride's safety restraints had been making an unusual "clicking" sound. The victim has been identified as Hassan Kariem, 42.
According to eyewitnesses, Kariem was on the ride with his son when he was thrown from his seat. He reportedly struck the coaster multiple times before falling beneath the attraction. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident.
Some passengers on the ride claimed that the restraints on the rollercoaster, which reaches heights of over 200 feet, were making a "weird clicking" noise. They stated that park staff checked the restraints multiple times before the car carrying Kariem and his son departed. "It would unlock and lock, unlock and lock. It kept clicking like it was unlocking and relocking," one unidentified woman who was also on the ride told WSB-TV. Her companion added that staff "triple and quadruple checked" the restraints, which he noted was unusual unless there was a problem.
Cobb County police confirmed that it appeared Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling. Responding officers found him unresponsive behind a haunted house attraction set up for Halloween. The park was evacuated following the incident.
Images circulated on social media appearing to show Kariem falling from the rollercoaster. "The man started levitating in the air sideways, come back [and hit the cart]," witness Logan Conner told WXIA. "The cart went back up in the air, flipped, came down, [he] hit the cart, went back up in the air, came down, hit the cart again and then the ride stopped."
Atlanta Public Schools identified Kariem as an educator and technology professional in the district. "He was a cherished member of the Wesley International Academy and APS families whose presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched," the school district said in a statement.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Six Flags temporarily closed the Goliath and a number of other rides at its national attractions "out of an abundance of caution." The Goliath rollercoaster has been a feature at the park since 2006.
This incident occurs a month after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced it was demolishing its X2 roller coaster following a series of lawsuits alleging severe rider injuries. In 2022, 22-year-old Christopher Hawley died after riding the X2. Additionally, lawsuits have been filed alleging traumatic brain injuries from the ride. Two women, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, and Pamela Guillen, 40, reportedly suffered severe injuries, including brain bleeding and hemorrhaging, after riding the X2 in recent months. Greer-Wilkinson remains in a vegetative state and dependent on a ventilator, according to reports.