The Six Flags Goliath incident on Monday afternoon left a 42-year-old Atlanta man dead and several other people hurt at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to the Cobb County Police Department. Investigators are still working to learn how the man came out of the ride, and no cause has been announced.
A man died after being thrown from the Goliath roller coaster on October 12, 2026. Police say he struck other riders before falling beneath the ride. Four people were reported injured by local outlets. The ride is closed, the cause is unknown, and Six Flags has paused nine coasters across its parks while the investigation continues.
What police have confirmed
Officers were called to the park in Cobb County at about 3:58 p.m. on October 12, police told local reporters, as WSB-TV reported. The department later named the man as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta.
In a statement, the department’s Major Crimes Unit said early information from witness and employee interviews points to Kariem being thrown from the ride. Police said he hit other guests and then fell below the attraction. He was found unresponsive and not breathing, and his next of kin were notified, CNN reported.
The park sits about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Major Crimes Unit.
| Date | Monday, October 12, 2026, about 3:58 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Location | Goliath coaster, Six Flags Over Georgia, Cobb County |
| Person who died | Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta |
| Injuries | Several; local reports say four |
| Investigating | Cobb County Police Major Crimes Unit; ride maker Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Cause | Not determined |
Remembering the man who died
Atlanta Public Schools said Kariem was a valued member of Wesley International Academy, a public charter school in the city. The district said he had been with it for more than 12 years and extended condolences to his family and friends, according to CNN.
Local witnesses told WXIA-TV that the man appeared to be riding with his son while his wife and daughter watched from the ground. That detail comes from onlookers and has not been confirmed by police.
Injuries and the response at the park
Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said police responded right away and that detectives were looking into the circumstances. The county, she said, was working closely with the park and other partners.
The number of injured has been reported differently. CNN said officials had not released how many people were hurt or how badly. WSB-TV and other Atlanta outlets reported that four people were injured. Until police give a figure, it is safest to say several.
Riders were stranded on the coaster for a time. Atlanta News First described guests waiting on the lift incline while emergency crews arrived, and park workers later helped them down.
Open questions in the Six Flags Goliath incident
The biggest unanswered question is how the man left the ride. 11Alive noted that police had not said whether a mechanical problem, operator error or something else was involved.
The cause of death has also not been made public. The Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office told CNN it could not share information during an active investigation and that police would release verified details.
Readers should treat social media posts about the Six Flags Goliath incident with care. Some images and videos have circulated online, but none has been authenticated by investigators, and they should not be used to guess at a cause.
Closures across other Six Flags parks
A day after the Six Flags Goliath incident, the company closed several coasters at other locations as a precaution, Fox Business reported. A park spokesperson told CNN that nine coasters were paused in the United States and Canada. Several are hypercoasters, the same style as Goliath.
The rides named in the CNN update include:
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey
- Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina
- Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Ohio
The Georgia park runs on a weekend schedule and is set to open again Friday, a spokesperson said. Goliath and some other attractions there stay closed. The ride’s builder, Bolliger & Mabillard, called the event tragic and said it is investigating, with no further comment until it understands what happened.
About the Goliath ride
Six Flags describes Goliath as a hypercoaster with a top height of 200 feet and a top speed of 70 mph. A full circuit lasts about 210 seconds.
Brian Avery, a University of Florida professor who studies ride safety, told CNN the manufacturer has a strong safety record. He said Goliath uses a waist and thigh restraint and has no over-the-shoulder harness. Avery said that is a design choice, but he believes a backup restraint deserves consideration. His comments are general expert views, not findings about this event.
Six Flags says every ride goes through extensive inspection and maintenance, with daily checks by park teams and regular reviews by outside inspectors.
The company’s wider situation
CNN reported that Six Flags has not had a profitable quarter since summer 2024, after its merger with Cedar Fair, and posted a $203 million net loss in its latest quarter. The company has also warned that safety problems could make liability insurance harder to get at reasonable rates. These business facts are background only and have not been linked to the events in Georgia.
What happens next
Detectives are expected to continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing the ride. Police had not planned a news conference as of Tuesday, 11Alive reported. Official findings on the Six Flags Goliath incident may take time, and this story will change as police, the medical examiner and the manufacturer release more verified information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died in the Six Flags Goliath incident?
Police identified him as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta.
When and where did it happen?
It happened at about 3:58 p.m. on October 12, 2026, on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Cobb County.
What caused the man to fall?
That has not been determined. Police are investigating, and the manufacturer says it is also looking into what happened.
Is Goliath open now?
No. Six Flags said the ride remains temporarily closed. The Georgia park itself is scheduled to reopen Friday.
Were other Six Flags rides closed?
Yes. A park spokesperson said nine coasters at several parks in the U.S. and Canada were closed while the investigation continues.
