Six Flags Closes More Roller Coasters at Other Parks After Deadly Georgia Incident
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller coasters at six parks in the United States and Canada after a man died on a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. The company confirmed the closures with ABC News following the October 12 incident on the Goliath roller coaster.
Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois is among the rides affected. The coaster opened in 1999 and reaches speeds of 73 mph, making it one of the park’s biggest attractions.
The Cobb County Police Department identified the man who died as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta. Officers responded to the Georgia park around 3:58 p.m. Monday and found him beneath the roller coaster, unresponsive and not breathing.
Police said preliminary interviews with witnesses and employees indicated Kariem had been ejected from the ride and struck other guests before falling. Detectives with the department’s Major Crimes Unit are still investigating what happened.
Riders Were Evacuated From Goliath in Georgia
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Video taken by WSB-TV’s NewsChopper 2 showed a train stopped high on the coaster’s track. Park employees helped passengers off the ride four at a time.
The Goliath roller coaster opened in 2006. According to Six Flags’ own ride information, it stands 200 feet tall and reaches speeds of 70 mph.
Several other people were injured during the incident. Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is also investigating what happened.
Nine Other Roller Coasters Have Been Shut Down
Six Flags closed the other rides as a precaution while the investigation continues. The company confirmed the following closures to ABC News: Six Flags Great America, Illinois: Raging Bull; Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey: Nitro; Six Flags Magic Mountain, California: Goliath; Carowinds, North Carolina: Fury 325 and Thunder Striker; Kings Island, Ohio: Orion and Diamondback; and Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario: Behemoth and Leviathan.
That makes 10 closed roller coasters when the original Goliath in Georgia is included.
Most of the affected rides were manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the company that built Georgia’s Goliath. The Goliath at Magic Mountain shares the same name but was built by a different manufacturer, Giovanola.
When Will the Roller Coasters Reopen?
Six Flags has not announced reopening dates for the nine additional coasters. In Illinois, Raging Bull will need another state safety inspection before passengers can ride it again.
At Six Flags Over Georgia, park president Richard Pretlow posted an update confirming that Goliath remains closed. He said the park does not have an anticipated reopening date for the ride.
The park is scheduled to reopen to guests on Friday, October 16, although Goliath will remain unavailable.
