Brief
Man killed after being ejected from Six Flags Goliath coaster in Georgia
The fatal incident has reignited debate over U.S. amusement‑park ride safety regulations.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42‑year‑old technology teacher from Atlanta, was thrown from his seat on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, striking other riders before landing below the track, according to the park and local officials.
Goliath, a 61‑metre drop coaster that reaches speeds of 112 kph, has been operating at the park for two decades. After the incident, Six Flags temporarily shut nine similar coasters across six North American parks, citing an "abundance of caution." Ride manufacturer Bolliger & Mabdrian said it is "actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened," as reported by Deccan Chronicle.
Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which conducts annual ride inspections, said it is conducting an "in‑depth and comprehensive review" of the accident, a statement from spokesperson Garrison Bennett confirmed.
The United States lacks a federal regulatory framework for stationary amusement‑park rides; oversight is left to individual states, creating a patchwork of standards. U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has repeatedly introduced legislation to close what he calls a "loophole" that prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from overseeing these rides.
Brian Avery, a University of Florida professor and amusement‑ride safety expert, said more federal regulations are needed, asking, "Who's watching those in these organisations to ensure that they are adequately trained, that they are compliant, that they are monitoring these rides to the level in which the standards have established?"
The amusement‑park industry generally follows ASTM standards set by experts, covering design, construction and rider acceleration limits. Dennis Speigel, a theme‑park consultant and former president of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, said the industry has multiple layers of inspection and that "with the checks and balances that are put in place, theme parks are really one of the safest places to be on the planet."
Earlier Felo coverage noted the same incident (Six Flags Georgia coaster fall) and provided background on U.S. coaster fatalities (roller coaster fatalities in the United States).
Key facts
- Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after being ejected from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters across six parks following the incident. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Bolliger & Mabdrian is investigating the accident and has not released further comment. (deccanchronicle.com)
- Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is conducting an in‑depth review of the ride safety. (deccanchronicle.com)
- U.S. ride safety is regulated by states, not federally; Senator Ed Markey has proposed legislation to change this. (deccanchronicle.com)
Sources
- [1] deccanchronicle.com — originally reported as “Six Flags Roller Coaster Death Raises Questions Over Ride Safety Regulations in US”
