Six Flags Roller Coaster Rider Who Died Was Member of Enthusiast Group
Hassan Kariem, an Atlanta teacher and cancer survivor, had joined a Facebook group for roller coaster fans seven months before his fatal fall from the Goliath ride.
The Atlanta teacher who died after falling from the Six Flags “Goliath” roller coaster was a member of a Facebook group for roller coaster enthusiasts. Hassan Kariem, 42, joined the public group “Roller Coaster Enthusiasts Club” on March 15, approximately seven months before the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia.
The group, established 15 years ago, has over 104,000 members and serves as a forum for amusement park fans to share ride experiences.
Members of the group have posted tributes to Kariem, remembering him as a “brother” and “one of our own.” Kariem was an IT manager at Wesley International Academy, an Atlanta charter school. A school spokesperson stated that the community was “devastated” by his death, noting his impact as an IT manager, technology teacher, and robotics coach.
Kariem was on the Goliath ride with his niece when he was ejected. Souvenir photos shared on social media appeared to capture the moment, showing riders screaming. Several other riders on the coaster were injured, and some were covered in blood.
Witnesses described the fall as seeming to happen in slow motion, though it occurred rapidly. One witness reported that Kariem fell headfirst back into the coaster on its final turn before being ejected.
The Goliath roller coaster, described as Georgia’s tallest, has been temporarily closed. Six Flags Over Georgia park president Richard Pretlow stated that there is no anticipated reopening date at this time. An investigation into the accident is ongoing, and Kariem's official cause of death has not been released.