A 42-year-old Atlanta man died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12, 2026, in an incident that also injured several other riders.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an educator at Wesley International Academy described by Atlanta Public Schools as a “cherished member,” was riding the hypercoaster with his son while his wife and daughter watched from the ground. Around 3:58 p.m., witnesses reported that he came out of his seat, appeared to “levitate in the air sideways,” struck the coaster car multiple times (one account said three times), hit other passengers, and fell beneath the ride onto the roof of a haunted house attraction. He was found unresponsive and not breathing and was later pronounced dead. Reports indicated roughly four others were injured.
Cobb County police’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating, along with state safety officials. Preliminary accounts based on witness and employee interviews describe an ejection, but the exact circumstances remain under investigation. The ride’s manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), called the accident “tragic” and said it is actively investigating.
Goliath, which opened in 2006, is a roughly 200-foot-tall hypercoaster that reaches about 70 mph and uses clamshell/lap-bar restraints (common on such rides and providing upper-body freedom). The park and Six Flags expressed deep sadness, cooperated with authorities, and temporarily closed Goliath plus nine similar attractions across six parks “out of an abundance of caution.” The park, which had been open that Monday for the Columbus Day holiday, was scheduled to reopen later in the week with Goliath remaining closed pending the investigation.
A previous 2006 death involving a rider on the same coaster was attributed to a congenital heart condition rather than the ride itself. Amusement park ride incidents involving ejections are rare; industry groups note that the statistical risk of serious injury on fixed-site rides is very low relative to the large number of rides taken annually. The investigation continues.
SOURCES:
Dad who fell to his death from Six Flags roller coaster levitated and made eye contact with other riders in bloody scene that ended with him plunging onto roof of haunted house | Daily Mail Online
Live updates: Man dies after falling off roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia | CNN
Six Flags Goliath Rider’s Fatal Fall Captured in Souvenir Photo – Newsweek
Death on Six Flags rollercoaster in US triggers ride closures across six states | Georgia | The Guardian
Six Flags fatal Goliath incident in Georgia: what the 9 closed roller coasters have in common – Attractions Magazine
Man dead after falling from Georgia roller coaster
Six Flags parkgoer killed after falling off Goliath roller coaster in Georgia: report
