Six Flags Over Georgia to reopen Friday; Goliath remains closed during death investigation

Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen as scheduled Friday, Oct. 16, while its Goliath roller coaster remains closed during investigations into a rider’s death.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, was ejected from his seat Monday, Oct. 12, striking other passengers before falling beneath the attraction, according to Cobb County police. Four other riders, all juveniles, were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Authorities have not announced what caused Kariem to be ejected.

The park’s closure between Monday and Friday followed its weekend operating schedule, CBS News Atlanta reported.

State inspectors examine the ride

Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said investigators are examining Goliath’s equipment and interviewing witnesses. His office inspected the park’s rides before the season began, he told WRDW.

“I assure you that we are not going to leave any stone unturned,” King said.

King said regulators would examine the ride’s locks, wiring, restraints and sensors before allowing it to reopen.

Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss manufacturer that built Goliath, is also investigating.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family and those affected,” the company said in a statement reported by WSB-TV.

Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters at six other parks across the United States and Canada as a precaution.

Experts discuss safety systems

Goliath stands 200 feet tall and reaches speeds of up to 70 mph. It uses a pull-down lap restraint known as a “clamshell,” roller coaster expert Martin Lewison told the Associated Press.

Lewison, a professor at Farmingdale State College, said the operator’s safety system displays a green light for each seat before dispatch. His description explains the system’s intended operation; investigators have not established whether it malfunctioned.

Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, told WSB-TV that investigators would need to examine the ride, maintenance and operating procedures to determine what happened.

The park’s reopening coincides with Fright Fest. Attorney Aura Taylor told WRDW that preserving evidence would be critical as visitors return. Her comments were an assessment of potential concerns, rather than an announced finding about the investigation.