Six Flags Over Georgia reopened its gates Friday evening for the first time since a 42-year-old Atlanta man was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster and killed earlier this week. The park had already been scheduled to remain closed Tuesday through Thursday before resuming operations Friday.
The victim was identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a school employee from Atlanta. Witnesses reported seeing him thrown from his seat before he struck other guests and fell to the ground below the massive coaster.
Park president Richard Pretlow released a statement Friday afternoon expressing condolences to Kariem’s family and reaffirming the park’s dedication to guest safety. He acknowledged that while incidents of this severity are rare, the park remains committed to strengthening its safety procedures and operational standards.
Goliath remained closed as of Friday’s reopening while investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly fall. Cobb County Assistant Police Chief Damon Ballard said local authorities are deferring to state investigators before determining whether any criminal charges would be pursued.
Cobb County Commission Chairperson Lisa Cupid declined to issue a direct safety assurance to potential visitors, instead telling the public to “use their judgment” when deciding whether to return to the park.
State inspection records reviewed by the Associated Press show the Goliath coaster passed its most recent annual inspection in March with zero safety violations. While inspections dating back to 2016 had flagged 18 total violations over the years including corrosion and loose handrails, none of those issues were connected to the ride’s restraint system.
The Goliath coaster was built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard and uses a clamshell-style restraint that locks over a rider’s lap and upper legs. The coaster has no secondary safety belts or backup restraints. At least 11 similar coasters across the United States and Canada have been temporarily shut down pending review, as they were all manufactured by the same company and use comparable restraint systems.
The manufacturer stated via email that it would not comment on the Georgia fatality until it had a clearer understanding of what occurred. Goliath opened at the park in 2006 and features a 200-foot first hill with speeds reaching 70 miles per hour.
Kariem’s death has prompted widespread scrutiny over roller coaster safety standards nationwide, with some riders who had been on Goliath earlier that same day reporting concerns about the tightness of the restraints before the fatal ride.