A 42-year-old man died while riding the roller coaster, Goliath, at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday (Oct. 12). In an update Tuesday, local police said Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was thrown from his seat and struck other patrons before landing below the ride. Visitors at the theme park near Atlanta described watching him fall out of the coaster to his death Monday.
The incident caused Six Flags to temporarily close nine similar roller coasters nationwide. The park in Mableton was already scheduled to be closed Tuesday. One of Goliath’s other trains could be seen on the ride’s first hill Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped after the man fell from another train.
RELATED: Six Flags Closes 9 Roller Coasters Across 6 Parks After Fatal Incident At Georgia Location (UPDATE)
More Details Revealed About Death Of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem
Cobb County police and Atlanta Public Schools confirmed that Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was the man who died while on the roller coaster. Both entities and Hassan’s family offered more details to remember him by. Hassan’s loved ones, according to 11Alive, described him as a passionate educator who was invested in reuniting families. Atlanta Public Schools (APS) also confirmed he worked at Wesley International Academy as an IT manager, technology teacher and robotics coach.
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“The Wesley International Academy community is devastated by the loss of Hassan Kariem, affectionately known as Mr. Kariem, who was a beloved colleague, friend, and integral part of the Wesley family for more than 12 years,” APS’ statement said, per 11Alive. “…His love for Wesley, dedication to our students, and commitment to our school community were evident in everything he did. Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community. Our hearts are with his family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who knew and loved him as we mourn this tremendous loss. We ask that our community keep Mr. Kariem’s family in their thoughts and respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, said Hassan’s next of kin 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.”
Officials have not released any other information about those who suffered injuries when Hassan’s body struck them.
Witnesses Describe Roller Coaster Incident
Investigators say they spoke with park visitors and employees who saw what happened. No one has released information about how Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem ended up coming out of his seat. Logan Conner, for example, said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.
“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he told NBC. “We made direct eye contact with him.”
Brittany Landry had been on the ride earlier Monday and was waiting in line to go again. “We just look, and I just see somebody fly out,” she told WAGA-TV. She said she wasn’t sure at first what she saw. “Maybe somebody had a bag or something.”
"It was like a horror movie." A couple on Goliath as a man fell off and died at Six Flags Over Georgia describe the restraints making a strange sound before man "ejected." >>> https://t.co/cpfVEDynJ4 pic.twitter.com/w4iBmhBj8C
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) October 13, 2026
The fatal fall happened near the part of the roller coaster that passes a souvenir photo camera. One nameless witness speaking to 11Alive affirmed Hassan can be seen in their photos. “He fell and hit the car three different times,” the witness reportedly said.
The Shade Room can confirm a souvenir photo apparently showing Hassan during the fall has been circulating on social media, namely X and Threads. It’s authenticity has not been independently verified and it’s unclear who originally uploaded the now-viral photo. The Shade Room will not be embedding or linking to said photo out of respect for Hassan’s family, students and other loved ones.
Additionally, another witness, Nick Mendenhall, who was on the ride during the fall spoke with NBC about what he saw.
View on Threads
Six Flags Temporarily Shuts Down Roller Coasters
Six Flags said in a statement that it has temporarily shut down nine similar roller coasters at six of its theme parks in the U.S. and Canada. Those parks were already scheduled for seasonal midweek closures on Tuesday and Wednesday. The affected rides include:
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina
- Rides Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, Canada
Six Flags Entertainment did not immediately respond Tuesday to emailed questions seeking more information on why those specific rides were shut down and what would be done before they reopen.
Officials Are Investigating Hassan’s Roller Coaster Death
Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which oversees ride inspections, is “conducting an in‑depth and comprehensive review,” said Garrison Bennett, a spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss company that manufactured the coaster and many others worldwide, said it is “actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened.”
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family and those affected.”
Goliath first opened in 2006. The ride reaches a top speed of 70 mph with a height of 200 feet, according to the park’s website. Riders “navigate through razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills,” during the more than 3-minute ride, the website says.
The death is at least the seventh at the Georgia park since 1989. That includes two people who were in restricted areas and struck by roller coasters and two who died in auto accidents, according to the Doan Law Firm. In 2006, a man died after likely having a heart attack on the Goliath coaster, the law firm said.
