Six Flags Adds Seatbelts to Goliath Roller Coaster After Fatal Fall
The company announced the safety enhancement for the Georgia ride and others with similar restraints following the death of a park visitor.
Six Flags Over Georgia is adding seatbelts to its Goliath roller coaster and other rides with similar restraints after a man died when he was ejected from the attraction on October 12.
Hassan Kariem, 42, was killed in the incident on the Goliath roller coaster when he was thrown from his seat. The ride has been closed since the tragedy.
John Reilly, CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, announced Friday that the company is reinforcing safety precautions. "We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint," Reilly stated.
He added that the park's ride operators undergo a multi-stage training program. Goliath is one of nine rides across five parks that Six Flags has temporarily closed for safety reviews.
Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, told WSB-TV that some rides do not include seatbelts as a measure to reduce wait times. "That seat belt is an added layer, which up until now all the evidence has been that that clamshell restraint has been good enough that you don't need the extra security of the lap belt as well, which would take another moment or two to connect and disconnect at the end of the ride," Niles said. "But right now, given what's happened, that might change the calculus for a lot of theme parks."
Parkgoers expressed relief at the addition of seatbelts. "Once they add those seatbelts, I'll definitely be getting back on it," one woman at the park commented.
The Six Flags CEO also indicated that the company plans to engage independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures at all parks. "I know trust is earned through actions and not words. As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally," Reilly said.
Kariem, an education technology professional, was at the park with family to celebrate a niece's birthday. Witnesses reported that he was ejected headfirst from his seat and collided with the ride's structure before falling. The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The Goliath roller coaster reaches speeds of 70 mph and ascends over 200 feet, making it the tallest roller coaster in Georgia. The ride features sharp turns and high hills, according to the Six Flags website.
This incident occurs approximately one month after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced the demolition of its X2 roller coaster due to a series of lawsuits alleging severe rider injuries.