By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2026-10-13 16:31:45 | Updated at 2026-10-15 22:02:48
2 days ago
A 42-year-old man died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was reportedly on the roller coaster with his son when things took a tragic turn. Witnesses on the ride described the terrifying moment he was ejected.
“He fell and hit the car three different times,” one witness told 11 Alive News.
“He fell onto a girl two rows in front of us,” another witness told the outlet.
The witnesses said the incident occurred near a camera installed along the ride, which captured images of the man being ejected.
“You could see him above us flying off the cart in the pictures,” the male witness told 11 Alive News.
The Cobb County Police Department issued a statement saying that “at approximately 3:58 p.m., officers working at the park responded to an incident involving a male guest on a roller coaster,” according to 11 Alive.
“Officers located Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem (Atlanta, Ga) beneath the ride. He was unresponsive and not breathing,” they said.
Their statement continued, “Officers immediately secured the scene and requested assistance from the Major Crimes Unit. Preliminary information gathered through witness and employee interviews indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction.”
The cause of the tragedy remains unclear.
🚨🇺🇸 A man fell to his death from Six Flags Over Georgia’s Goliath coaster, and the moment was HORRIFICALLY captured on a souvenir photo Several others were hurt on the 200-foot, 70 mph ride before crews evacuated the riders still stranded on the track, and Six Flags has now shut similar coasters at parks across the country. This comes less than two weeks after Six Flags permanently closed X2 in California following a CNN investigation into years of brain injuries and deaths… Source: CNN, @Breaking911 / Writer: Daniel
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 13, 2026The Cobb County Police Department and the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are investigating the incident.
Kariem’s family members told 11Alive’s Chase Houle that he was a passionate educator who loved his city and was invested in bringing families back together.
Several others were reportedly injured, but no further details were disclosed. (RELATED: Feds Charge Selma Blair For Allegedly Attacking Flight Attendant, Police Officer, Nurse)
Six Flags dad who died after falling from ‘Goliath’ roller coaster ID’d as Atlanta teacher https://t.co/Juu9cR163U https://t.co/BULGa9qIRl
— New York Post (@nypost) October 13, 2026Six Flags temporarily closed nine other roller coasters across six of its other parks “out of an abundance of caution,” according to 11 Alive.
