Here's the latest
• Victim identified: The man who died after being “ejected” from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia yesterday has been identified by police as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, a charter school IT manager, technology teacher and robotics coach. Several others were also injured.
• Eyewitness accounts: Witnesses said Kariem struck several other people before falling beneath the ride, according to police. The manufacturer of the ride said it is “actively investigating the incident” and Six Flags temporarily closed at least 10 roller coasters across several of its parks in the US and Canada.
• CNN investigation: The tragedy comes two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced it would permanently close its world-famous ride X2 following a CNN investigation that documented reports of life-altering injuries and deaths.
Updates
(28)Beloved teacher identified as Six Flags victim
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died after falling off a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Here’s what we know about the beloved teacher and the incident surrounding his death.
What we know about the fatal Six Flags roller coaster incident under investigation
A day after a man fell to his death from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, investigators are working to determine what happened.
Here’s what we know about the incident:
The loss of a beloved teacher: Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, the man who died after reportedly falling off a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, worked at Wesley International Academy, an Atlanta public charter school, as the IT manager, technology teacher and robotics coach.
Investigation underway: The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which is responsible for overseeing inspections of amusement and carnival rides for safety in Georgia, has launched an investigation into the incident.
Six Flags closes rides across the country: At least 10 roller coasters across several Six Flags parks in the US and Canada — several of which are hypercoasters like the Goliath — have been closed as police investigate what caused Kariem to fall from the ride in Georgia.
Coaster manufacturer has “stellar record”: The Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia is manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, a company with a “stellar” safety record, according to Brian Avery, a professor at the University of Florida who specializes in ride safety and risk management. But, notably, the ride does not include a secondary safety restraint for riders, Avery said.
CNN’s Rebekah Riess, Elise Hammond, Karina Tsui and Avni Trivedi contributed to this report.
AP: At least 6 other riders have died on roller coasters in the US since 2003
A man who fell to his death from a roller coaster at an Atlanta-area amusement park was not the first to die on such a ride in recent years.
Authorities have not released information about how 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was thrown from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Several people also were injured.
Here’s a look at other fatalities and injuries on US roller coasters:
Six Flags Magic Mountain
The park in Southern California announced last month that it was retiring its famous X2 roller coaster following lawsuits alleging riders suffered serious brain injuries. The park settled one wrongful-death lawsuit with the family of a 22-year-old rider who was rushed to a hospital with severe brain bleeding in 2022. He died a day later. Six Flags Entertainment Corp. said the ride had consistently passed safety tests.
Epic Universe
A medical examiner concluded last year that a man who was unresponsive after riding a roller coaster at the Universal Orlando Resort park died from blunt impact injuries. Joshua Stephany, the medical examiner for the Orlando area, ruled the death an accident.
Texas Giant
In 2013, a woman riding a roller coaster in Texas died after she was thrown from her seat, fell 75 feet and struck a metal beam. Witnesses said the woman expressed concern about the Texas Giant roller coaster’s safety bar not completely engaging as the ride was starting.
Darien Lake
A US Army veteran who lost both legs in Iraq was killed in 2011 after he was thrown from a roller coaster at Darien Lake Theme Park & Resort in upstate New York. Investigators said operators did not follow rules posted at the ride’s entrance, which require that riders have both legs.
Dixie Landin’
A 21-year-old rider fell to her death from a roller coaster at the amusement park in Louisiana in 2010. A state investigation could not determine a cause.
Disneyland
In 2003, a locomotive broke loose from a train on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster in California, killing a man and injuring multiple other riders. The car derailed after a guide wheel fell off. State investigators found the wheel was not tightened according to Disney’s standards and a safety wire was not installed.
Georgia coaster accident victim was a “cherished member” of an Atlanta charter school
The man who died after reportedly falling off a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia yesterday was “a cherished member” of Wesley International Academy, an Atlanta public charter school, Atlanta Public Schools said in a statement.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was Wesley International Academy’s IT manager, a technology teacher and robotics coach, the school said.
Kariem’s “presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched,” the school district said. “Atlanta Public Schools extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Kariem.”
He was with the district for over 12 years, a spokesperson said.
“Our thoughts are with everyone mourning his loss during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Who is responsible for making sure amusement park rides are safe?
The federal government has no regulation over amusement park rides, rather that responsibility is left to the states.
Mobile amusement rides, like those at a carnival, are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, but “fixed-site rides,” like the ones at Six Flags, are outside of the commission’s jurisdiction.
This came after Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, limiting the commission’s oversight only to rides not permanently fixed to the site and leaving it to states to regulate amusement park rides.
There is no uniformity across the country over which state regulator is in charge of inspecting amusement park rides. For example, the Texas Department of Insurance takes the lead that state, whereas in California, it falls under the state Department of Industrial Relations.
This web of state-by-state regulations have received backlash, especially by Sen. Ed Markey, who has repeatedly introduced legislation to return the oversight of amusement park rides to the CPSC, and calling the current legislation a “loophole” in safety regulations.
The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is starting an investigation after a man fell off the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and died, the office said in a statement.
The six flags that shaped Texas — and inspired an amusement park
The first Six Flags amusement park, Six Flags Over Texas, opened its gates in 1961 after real estate developer Angus Wynne Jr. envisioned the park as a temporary use for the land before developing it into an industrial complex.
The park was designed to celebrate Texas’ history, and its name refers to the nations whose flags had flown over the state: Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, the United States and the Confederacy.
It wasn’t until 2017 that Six Flags decided to stop flying the Confederate Flag over its amusement parks, The Washington Post reported.
The flags represent the “changes, complexities, and richness found throughout the state’s history,” according to the Bullock Texas State History Museum, but fail to recognize the long-standing history of Indigenous people who dominated the region.
Wynne Jr. later sold Six Flags and the company was eventually expanded. Today, Six Flags is the largest regional theme park company in the world.
Insurance commissioner's office investigating fatal incident at Six Flags Over Georgia
The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is starting an investigation after a man fell off the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and died, the office said in a statement.
“Our investigative team is conducting an in‑depth and comprehensive review to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure full compliance with all applicable policies and procedures,” the statement said.
The agency is responsible for overseeing inspections of amusement and carnival rides for safety, which are completed before a ride goes into service. Annual inspections are also required, according to the office’s website.
What are the requirements to become a roller coaster operator?
Six Flags says various teams perform extensive maintenance and inspections to keep its rides running safely. But what qualifications do the employees operating the rides need?
Six Flags currently lists various ride operator positions throughout the country, with similar requirements and qualifications across locations.
Applicants must be at least 16 years old, with hourly pay ranging from $12 in Texas to $17.50 in California.
A current listing for a rides team member in Austell, Georgia, a role with similar qualifications and responsibilities to a ride operator, pays $11.50 per hour.
Some of the daily functions of an operator include performing daily equipment checks before the ride opens to the public and confidently operating rides “using controls, signals, and communication.”
Operators are also responsible for pressing buttons and switches to start the rides and ensuring restraints have been checked and secured, according to several of the postings.
Ride operators must also pass ride certification tests with 100% accuracy.
Six Flags says its rides are engineered with safety systems and that each attraction has unique requirements.
The park says weight and height requirements, among other restrictions, are posted at each attraction, but “guests are responsible for making informed decisions about whether a ride is appropriate for them.”
But several current job postings suggest that operators are responsible for enforcing rider restrictions and measuring for height requirements.
Six Flag attraction pages feature safety information, websites show
Several Six Flags parks, including former Cedar Fair parks, display information about ride safety on their attractions webpage.
The red banner above the list of rides and roller coasters available at the park includes the phrases, “Ride Safety at Six Flags” and “Our Commitment to Every Ride, Every Day.”
At least nine other coasters at various Six Flag parks have been closed, a spokesperson said.
The safety page on the websites highlights the “extensive inspection and maintenance procedures” the rides undergo, including third-party and state inspectors.
The company also explains that ride operators are required to receive specialized certifications and it encourages guests to follow restrictions and rules.
“At Six Flags, safety is not a single inspection, a training course or a checklist. It is a culture that influences every decision we make,” the website says.
Six Flags temporarily closed these roller coasters at other parks
At least 10 roller coasters across several Six Flags parks in the US and Canada have been closed as police investigate what caused a man to reportedly fall off a ride in Georgia yesterday, according to a park spokesperson.
The man, identified by police as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, was killed in the incident on the Goliath. The manufacturer of the ride is also conducting an investigation, it said.
Several of the other roller coasters that were closed in other parks are also hypercoasters, like the Goliath, according to the parks’ websites.
Here are the other closures:
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio
The Goliath at La Ronde, a former Six Flags park in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, also closed.
Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly listed La Ronde as a Six Flags park. Six Flags sold La Ronde in March.
Travis Kelce is one of Six Flags' brand ambassadors and investors
Current Six Flags investors include NFL star and brand ambassador Travis Kelce, the husband of Taylor Swift, who bought a stake in the company last year.
The company announced Kelce as a brand ambassador in March.
Kelce teamed up with activist hedge fund Jana Partners in October 2025 to buy a 9% stake in Six Flags.
“This collaboration is part of a much bigger push as Six Flags continues investing in brand new rides, next level attractions, and fresh ways to take the adrenaline up a notch at every park,” the company said at the time.
Kelce said he was making the investment because he was “a lifelong Six Flags fan” who had grown up “going to these parks with my family and friends.”
CNN has reached out to Kelce’s management for comment regarding Monday’s fatal accident at Six Flags Over Georgia.
Expert: Goliath manufacturer has “stellar record,” but ride has no secondary restraints
The Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia is manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, a company with a “stellar” safety record, according to Brian Avery, a professor at the University of Florida who specializes in ride safety and risk management. But, notably, the ride does not include a secondary safety restraint for riders, Avery said.
The “scalloped-like bucket seat” on Goliath features a waist restraint that sits on top of the thigh and part of the waist, Avery explained. The ride does not have an over-the-shoulder harness like some other roller coasters, he said.
“It’s really a design consideration,” Avery said, explaining that during the ride’s development designers typically do a “hazard containment assessment,” to determine the best mechanism to restrain the occupants while experiencing the coaster’s speed and transition forces.
Still, a secondary restraint is something Avery believes should be considered. “If you have your primary fail, what are you left with? Yeah, nothing,” he said. “And it’s an impossible feat to stay contained if it did fail, because of the forces, the speed.”
But roller coasters are designed “to flirt with the edge of danger,” Avery says. “We want to feel the thrill of it, and some of that is you go airborne, some of it is you’re getting sucked back in your seat. So it really is what people are chasing.”
“There are inherent risks associated with amusement rides and devices, and we can’t escape that. But those risks should be identified. They should inform the public, and there should be measures to mitigate or eliminate those,” he added.
Front seat POV of Goliath roller coaster
Video captured by roller coaster enthusiast group CoasterForce shows a front-row view of the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
The video, which was captured several months ago, shows the view from a rider’s perspective.
The ride is described as a “hypercoaster” that reaches a top elevation of 200 feet and a top speed of 70 mph and runs for 210 seconds, according to the Six Flags website.
What we know — and don't know — about the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia
We’ve been bringing you updates after a man died at Six Flags Over Georgia when he fell from a roller coaster yesterday.
Here’s what we know, and don’t know, about the incident so far:
What we know
- Who died in the incident: The man who died Monday has been identified by police as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta.
- Where the incident happened: Kariem died after falling off the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta. The ride has a top speed of 70 mph and a top height of 200 feet, according to Six Flags.
- What witnesses saw: Onlookers at the park described seeing Kariem fall out of the coaster car and hit it three times before falling onto the roof of a haunted house attraction below.
- How Six Flags has responded: Six Flags has closed nine rides across its parks after the death, a spokesperson for the company said yesterday. The park is on weekend operations and is scheduled to open on Friday, the spokesperson said.
- How the ride’s manufacturer responded: The manufacturer of the roller coaster, Bolliger & Mabillard, called yesterday’s events “tragic.” The company said it is “actively investigating” the incident but had no further comment until it has “a better understanding of what transpired.”
What we don’t know
- How Kariem fell out of the coaster: What caused Kariem to fall off the roller coaster remains unclear. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit said.
- What the cause of death was: The cause of Kariem’s death has not been disclosed. The Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office said it was “unable to share information during ongoing investigations,” adding that “all information will be verified and released by the Cobb County Police Department.”
- Who was injured: Several people were injured in the incident, Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said. Exactly how many people were injured, how severely they were harmed and their identities have not been released.
CNN’s Avni Trivedi, Mark Morales, Karina Tsui, Sarah Aarthun, Rebekah Riess, Chenelle Woody and Cara Lynn Clarkson contributed to this report.
Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen Friday
After Monday’s tragedy prompted Six Flags Over Georgia to evacuate guests, a spokesperson said the amusement park will reopen Friday.
“The park is currently only open for weekends. Yesterday it was open due to the holiday,” spokesperson Sara Gorgon said in a text message to CNN. “It is scheduled to be open Friday.”
The Goliath roller coaster remains temporarily closed, along with other attractions that have been paused, Gorgon said.
Six Flags financial problems started well before tragic death
Six Flags has been struggling with financial losses and a weak stock performance for years.
The company hasn’t recorded a profitable quarter since the summer of 2024, following the completion of an $8 billion merger with rival Cedar Fair. Six Flags reported a $203 million net loss during its most recent quarter, more than double the nearly $100 million loss it saw a year earlier.
Six Flags reports its next earnings for the summer months in early November. Wall Street analysts forecast a return to profitability.
The company has been shedding some of its parks to help with costs, selling seven before the start of the 2026 season. It also closed one combination Maryland amusement park and waterpark at the end of last season.
Safety issues also aren’t helping its finances. Those pose a risk for the company’s ability to get adequate and affordable liability insurance, the company warned in its annual financial filing at the start of this year.
“Although the company carries liability insurance to cover possible incidents, coverage may not be adequate to cover liabilities (and) the company may not be able to obtain coverage at commercially reasonable rates,” it warned.
Six Flags (FUN) shares are down 23% so far this year, even before Tuesday’s plunge. The stock is nearly 80% lower since its merger with Cedar Fair closed in July 2024.
Officials identify man who died in roller coaster incident
The man who died on a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia yesterday has been identified by police as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta.
Officers responded to “an incident involving a male guest on a roller coaster” just before 4 p.m. ET yesterday, the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit said in a statement.
Kariem was found unresponsive and not breathing beneath the ride, the police department continued.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, the police department said, adding that Kariem’s next of kin have been notified.
Six Flags Over Georgia has been open for almost 60 years
Six Flags Over Georgia, the amusement park where a man died after falling off a roller coaster yesterday, has been open for nearly 60 years, according to CNN affiliate WSB-TV.
The park opened in the summer of 1967, according to the outlet. Years later, in 1973, the “Great American Scream Machine” roller coaster opened there. At the time, it was the “world’s tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster,” according to Six Flags Over Georgia.
Now home to 45 roller coasters, the park welcomes about 3 million guests annually, CNN affiliate WXIA-TV reported earlier this year.
In July, two people were seriously injured in the park after a tree fell on visitors during a storm, WXIA-TV reported.
Fights and a shooting at Six Flags Over Georgia during its opening weekend in 2024 also prompted officials to call a public safety meeting, according to the outlet.
Every ride at its parks “undergoes extensive inspection and maintenance procedures,” according to Six Flags.
Daily inspections are undertaken by park teams, while third parties, including state ride inspectors, insurance inspectors, and engineering experts, also regularly evaluate the rides, it says.
Six Flags loses about $170 million in market value following roller coaster tragedy
Shares of Six Flags Entertainment sank 14% to their lowest level since 2009 on Tuesday after a deadly roller coaster incident forced the theme park operator to temporarily close some rides across the country.
The sell-off erases about $170 million in market value from Six Flags, a company that was already facing significant financial pressure.
Six Flags announced Monday it has temporarily shut down nine rides at various parks after a man fell from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
Police have not said how the man died or how many people were hurt.
Six Flags, which trades under the ticker symbol “FUN,” has lost nearly half its value over the past year. Shares fell Tuesday to the lowest intraday level since December 2009. The company had a market value of $1.22 billion at Monday’s closing bell but that has declined to less than $1.1 billion.
Six Flags is backed by NFL star Travis Kelce, the husband of Taylor Swift. The company announced Kelce as a brand ambassador in March.
Kelce teamed up with activist hedge fund Jana Partners in October 2025 to buy a 9% stake in Six Flags.
Last month, Jana Partners called on Six Flags to immediately hire an investment bank to explore a sale, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Goliath ride manufacturer “actively investigating” deadly Georgia incident
The manufacturer of the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, Bolliger & Mabillard, based in Switzerland, has issued a statement calling Monday’s deadly accident “tragic.”
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family and those affected,” the company, which bills itself as “a global benchmark for technological innovation and unrivaled reliability” said in a statement.
The company said it is “actively investigating the incident,” but had no further comment, “until we have a better understanding of what transpired.”
The Goliath ride at Six Flags Over Georgia is one of the company’s “hyper coaster” style rides, described as delivering “soaring heights and breathtaking drops, providing an experience focused on speed, airtime, and towering views,” often with drops over 200 feet.
