Six Flags Renames Halloween Attraction After Fatal Coaster Incident
The park changed the name of 'Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party' out of respect for the family of a man who died after falling from a roller coaster.
Six Flags Over Georgia has renamed its annual Halloween attraction, formerly known as "Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party," to "Dr. Fright’s Party" following the death of a visitor. The change was made out of respect for the family of Hassan Kariem, 42, who died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster on October 12.
The park, which had been closed for four days following the incident, reopened on Friday. The Goliath roller coaster remains closed and padlocked.
Six Flags Over Georgia president Richard Pretlow issued a statement expressing sadness over the incident and extending thoughts to those affected. Pretlow affirmed that all park rides undergo rigorous safety checks, including daily, weekly, monthly, and annual inspections.
Following the fatal fall, other Six Flags locations with similar roller coasters, including parks in Illinois, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Ontario, North Carolina, and Ohio, have grounded their rides.
According to USA Today, this incident marks at least the eighth death at Six Flags Over Georgia since 1967, with three fatalities directly linked to the park's roller coasters. A previous incident in 1989 involved the death of an 11-year-old on the park's Z-Force coaster.
Six Flags Over Georgia and Bolliger and Mabillard, the manufacturer of the Goliath roller coaster, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.