Man Dies After Falling From Six Flags Roller Coaster in Georgia
The Story
Friends and loved ones are mourning Hassan Kariem, 42, who fell to his death Monday while riding "The Goliath" roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
Witnesses say Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other passengers as he fell. Six Flags has temporarily shut down Goliath and nine similar rides across six of its parks, including Seaworld Orlando's Mako roller coaster, as a precaution. Kariem was an IT manager and technology teacher at Wesley International Academy in the Atlanta Public Schools system for over 12 years.
Family members told local media he had survived two bouts of cancer and a fiery car crash. His sister, Andrea Clark, 35, told the New York Post that Kariem had been in remission from cancer since 2015 and survived a car fire weeks before his death. The Cobb County Police Department said the incident happened just before 16:00 local time on Monday.
State investigators and the ride's manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, are investigating the incident. The Goliath ride, which opened in 2006, reaches speeds of up to 70 mph and features a 200-foot elevation and a 170-foot initial drop. Shares of Six Flags Entertainment declined more than 16% Tuesday following the incident.
The Spread
The coverage 39 sources
- LeftHuffPostSix Flags Closes 9 North American Roller Coasters After Families Watch Man Fall To His Death (opens the publisher’s site)
- LeftThe Daily BeastSix Flags Roller Coaster Disaster Leaves Rider Dead (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftABC NewsSix Flags temporarily closes 9 other roller coasters after fatal incident in Georgia (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftCBS NewsCommunity mourns man who died in fall from Six Flags roller coaster (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftDetroit Free PressNeed one last roller coaster thrill? How long Cedar Point is open (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftFast CompanySix Flags tragedy in Georgia puts spotlight on the industry’s patchwork of safety standards (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftNBC NewsMan Dies After Falling Out of Six Flags Roller Coaster in Georgia (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftThe Boston GlobeMan killed on a Six Flags roller coaster was thrown from the ride and hit other patrons, police say (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftThe New York TimesPolice Identify 42-Year Old Man Killed at Six Flags Over Georgia (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftThe Washington PostSix Flags shuts roller coasters at six parks after death in Georgia (opens the publisher’s site)