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Six Flags Over Georgia reopens while state examines fatal Goliath ride incident
The Austell park reopened Friday, five days after Hassan Kariem, 42, died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster. The ride remains closed as state safety officials investigate; Cobb County police said they will step back if no criminal charges are pursued.
Six Flags Over Georgia reopened Friday evening, five days after 42-year-old Atlanta educator Hassan Kariem died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster. The ride remains closed while Georgia safety officials investigate what happened.
The park’s gates opened at about 6 p.m. Friday. At a news conference beforehand, Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said the incident had left people seeking answers and emphasized the need for a fair investigation.
Authorities said Kariem came out of his seat during the ride and struck other riders as he fell. He was an educator at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is leading the ride investigation. Commissioner John King said investigators are examining the coaster and its operating circumstances, including documentation, equipment and engineering evidence. The review will take time, he said, and authorities have not announced findings.
Six Flags said it provided investigators with relevant records and information about the ride’s operations. The park said its most recent inspection of Goliath, in March, found no reported violations. It also said staff undergo safety training and that rides receive inspections.
Cobb County Deputy Chief Damon Ballard said county police are reviewing the incident. If the department determines criminal charges are not warranted, police will have no further role in the investigation.
Six Flags president Richard Pretlow offered condolences to Kariem’s family and said guest and employee safety remained a priority. The park said it would continue operating while the investigation proceeds.