Six Flags temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six amusement parks on Monday (Oct. 12). This came after one person died and several others were injured in an incident involving a roller coaster in Georgia.
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What Happened At Six Flags Over Georgia?
Officials did not confirm how the person died, nor how the others were injured or their medical conditions after the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia. The park is located about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. Detectives from the Cobb County Police Department’s major crimes unit are investigating.
Neither the authorities nor Six Flags identified the roller coaster. However, local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath coaster. Also, a viral post on Threads on Monday appeared to describe the incident from a witness POV.
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Goliath opened in 2006. It reaches a top speed of 70 mph (113 kph) and is 200 feet (61 meters) tall, according to the park’s website. During about 3 1/2 minutes, riders “navigate through razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills,” the website says.
Company Closes Other Rides Across 6 Parks, Releases Statement
Attractions at the parks similar to the coaster in Austell, Georgia, were closed “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson. Also, the rep said that staff members and local authorities responded immediately and that the park is cooperating with the investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company is providing support to guests and staff who were impacted.
Latest Death Is Reportedly The 7th At Georgia Park
Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, said next of kin of the deceased person have been notified.
“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” Cupid said. “We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories.”
The park is a major part of the county’s tourism and brings in visitors from across the Southeast, Cupid said.
The death would be at least the seventh at the Georgia park. That includes one in 2006 in which a man had a likely heart attack on the Goliath coaster, according to the Doan Law Firm. The firm tallies amusement park accidents and represents victims.
It also comes less than two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California announced the retirement of its famous X2 roller coaster. The park faces lawsuits alleging serious brain injury caused by the ride. It already settled one wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding the roller coaster in 2022.
Also, last year, a 32-year-old man died from blunt impact injuries after riding a high-speed roller coaster at the Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida. A coroner ruled his death accidental.
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Associated Press writer Hallie Golden contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
