Nationwide — A tragic accident at Six Flags Over Georgia has claimed the life of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an African American educator and information technology professional from Atlanta, Georgia, who was thrown from a roller coaster. According to Cobb County police, he was ejected from his seat while riding the popular Goliath roller coaster, struck other passengers, and fell to the ground below. Horrified visitors witnessed the incident at the amusement park in Mableton, approximately 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. Authorities have not determined what caused him to come out of his seat, and officials have not released details about the conditions of other passengers who were struck during the accident.
According to AP News, Kariem worked as an information technology manager at a public charter school in Atlanta, where he had previously served as a technology teacher, according to his online résumé. His career included helping students and school staff navigate technology and computer systems. Witnesses described terrifying moments as he was thrown from the moving roller coaster. Logan Conner, who was riding Goliath with his fiancée, told NBC that he saw Kariem rise sideways out of his seat. “The man started levitating in the air sideways,” Conner recalled. “We made direct eye contact with him.” Another visitor, Britny Landry, had ridden the coaster earlier that day and was waiting in line to ride again when she witnessed the incident. She told WAGA-TV that she initially thought something had fallen from the ride before realizing it was a person.
Another witness, Summer Bates, was visiting Six Flags with her husband and three children. Her family had ridden Goliath earlier that day, and she recalled feeling uncomfortable with its restraint system. The roller coaster, which stands approximately 200 feet tall, uses lap bars that secure passengers around their legs and waists but does not have traditional seat belts. Bates said her older children repeatedly tried to tighten their restraints before the ride began. After boarding with her husband and youngest child, she understood their concerns because her own restraint did not feel sufficiently secure. “It was horrific to watch,” Bates said of the fatal accident. “One thing I think that will stick with us is the sound of his body coming down.” Investigators have not established whether the restraints contributed to Kariem’s death.
Following the tragedy, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters at six amusement parks across the United States and Canada as a precaution. Among the affected attractions were another Goliath coaster 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, and Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario. The company did not immediately explain why those particular rides were selected or what inspections would be required before reopening. Meanwhile, Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner announced a comprehensive investigation into the accident. Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, which designed Goliath and numerous other roller coasters worldwide, also confirmed that it was investigating the incident.
Goliath has operated at Six Flags Over Georgia for approximately two decades and is one of the park’s most recognizable attractions. The massive roller coaster features a steep initial drop and reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, emphasizing high-speed descents rather than upside-down loops. Kariem’s death has renewed concerns about amusement park safety, particularly following other serious incidents involving roller coasters nationwide. According to accident records compiled by the Doan Law Firm, at least seven deaths have occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia since 1989, although those incidents involved different circumstances, including restricted-area accidents and vehicle crashes. In 2006, another man died after reportedly suffering a suspected heart attack while riding Goliath. More recently, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced the retirement of its X2 roller coaster following lawsuits alleging serious injuries, including a wrongful-death case involving a 22-year-old rider who died in 2022.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding Kariem’s death, significant questions remain about passenger restraints, ride inspections, and whether additional safety precautions are necessary. Authorities have not announced a definitive cause of the accident or determined whether mechanical failure, human error, or another factor played a role. The tragedy has drawn attention to the responsibilities of amusement park operators and manufacturers to protect millions of visitors who ride roller coasters each year. Beyond the ongoing investigation, Kariem’s death represents the heartbreaking loss of a 42-year-old Black educator and technology professional whose life ended during what should have been an enjoyable day at an amusement park. His passing serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of amusement ride safety and the devastating consequences when something goes wrong.