Teacher Fell to His Death From Six Flags Roller Coaster After Passing Out, Niece Claims

A teacher who died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia had passed out before being ejected from the ride, according to his niece. Hassan Kariem, 42, was killed on Monday at the theme park in Austell, Georgia, when he fell from his seat on the Goliath ride. Four other individuals sustained injuries.

Navi, Kariem's niece, who was celebrating her 13th birthday and sitting next to him, told her father, Joshua Nelson, that Kariem "passed out." She recounted that after he lost consciousness, his restraint apparently became loose, leading to his fall. Nelson, while believing the incident to be a "freak accident," also expressed thoughts on whether it could have been prevented.

Nelson found solace in knowing that Kariem had a positive interaction with Navi just before the ride began. He shared that Kariem was enthusiastic about riding Goliath, his favorite, and had asked Navi to hold his sunglasses. Nelson expressed hope that this happy moment was Kariem's last memory and that he did not suffer.

Witnesses reported that Kariem fell out of his seat, striking the ride's metal structure multiple times before reaching the ground. Some witnesses alleged that the roller coaster's restraints were making a "weird clicking" sound, and that park staff had inspected them multiple times before the ride commenced. Logan Conner, who was in the same ride car as Kariem, described seeing Kariem "levitate" briefly before falling.

Following the incident, an investigation was launched. State officials and Cobb County Major Crimes detectives are examining the roller coaster's lap bar restraints, locking mechanisms, and computerized safety sensors. Six Flags released a statement expressing deep sadness and offering condolences to Kariem's family and loved ones, pledging full cooperation with the authorities.

Six Flags Over Georgia was closed from Tuesday through Thursday and was scheduled to reopen on Friday evening. However, the Goliath roller coaster is not expected to be operational. The incident has led to the temporary closure of at least 11 other roller coasters in the U.S. and Canada, nine of which were manufactured by the same company that built Goliath and feature similar restraint systems. These restraints typically consist of a clamshell mechanism mounted on a vertical bar in front of each seat. It remains unclear if these other coasters have secondary restraints, whereas the Goliath in Georgia reportedly does not.

Bollinger & Mabillard, the manufacturer of the Goliath, stated it would provide no further comment until it had a better understanding of the incident. The Goliath, the tallest roller coaster in Georgia, has been closed indefinitely. A similar roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California has also been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, with Six Flags emphasizing that guest and team member safety is its highest priority.