Man Dies After Falling From Six Flags Over Georgia Rollercoaster

A man identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died Monday after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to the Cobb County Police Department. The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. local time.

Officers responded to reports of a male guest on a roller coaster and, based on preliminary information from witness and employee interviews, determined that Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other patrons, and then fell beneath the attraction.

The ride involved has not been officially specified, but aerial footage showed the Goliath rollercoaster stopped mid-operation, and witnesses have identified it as the scene of the incident. The office of the state's insurance and fire safety commissioner, which oversees amusement park safety rules in Georgia, is also conducting a review.

Kariem's family described him as a devoted father and educator who had previously survived two bouts of cancer. He was an IT manager, technology teacher, and robotics coach at Wesley International Academy for over 12 years. The school issued a statement calling him "deeply loved and respected" and noting his dedication to students and the school community.

Witnesses described a traumatic scene. Nick Mendenhall told The Associated Press that he watched the man come out of his seat, fall into another cart, and then onto the ground. "It was just super, super bizarre, traumatic," he said. Another witness in line for the ride, Connor Thompson, reported hearing yelling and confusion before someone shouted that a person had fallen, adding that the cart later returned with an unlatched restraint.

The Goliath rollercoaster, which opened in 2006, features a 200-foot elevation, a 170-foot drop, a 540-degree spiral, and can reach speeds up to 70 mph. Six Flags released a statement expressing deep sadness and offering condolences to the guest's family and loved ones.

This incident is among at least seven deaths at the Six Flags Over Georgia park, according to data tracked by the Doan Law Firm, which represents amusement park accident victims. Previous fatalities at the park have involved medical emergencies, collisions with rides in restricted areas, car accidents, and incidents related to the park's pool. In the past 15 years, two other deaths involving falls from rollercoasters at Six Flags parks led to lawsuits and settlements.