Roller Coaster Restraint Issues Reported Before Fatal Fall
Witnesses on Six Flags' Goliath coaster described unusual clicking sounds and repeated restraint checks prior to a rider's death.
Witnesses aboard the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia reported hearing a "weird clicking" sound from the restraints and observed staff checking them multiple times before a fatal incident on Monday. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, fell from the ride, which can reach speeds of 70 mph.
One rider told WSB-TV that the restraint on their car repeatedly unlocked and re-locked, making a clicking noise. "It kept clicking like it was unlocking and re-locking," the witness stated. This rider and their companion also observed park staff pushing down on the restraints, noting that the employees "triple and quadruple checked" them.
According to the witnesses, such extensive checks were unusual, as staff typically only checked restraints once unless a problem was apparent. It remains unclear if Kariem's restraints were faulty or if the repeated checks were a precautionary measure. Kariem fell from the 200-foot-tall roller coaster onto the roof of a haunted house attraction within the park.
