What We Know
Six Flags: What We Know
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Updated
At least 10 similar rides closed
Six Flags has now closed at least 10 rides similar to Goliath at six parks in the U.S. and Canada. Goliath remains closed, and neither Cobb County police nor the state has released a cause.
On Monday, October 12, 2026, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Mableton, Cobb County, police say. Cobb County police and Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner are investigating. Neither has said what caused the ejection. Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters across six of its parks.
What's confirmed
- Oct. 12Cobb County police say preliminary information from witness and employee interviews indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other patrons and fell beneath the attraction. Several other people were hurt. Cobb County police, via AP and ABC News
- Oct. 12-13Cobb County police identified him as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta. Colleagues told ABC News he was a technology teacher and robotics coach at an Atlanta school for more than a decade. Cobb County police; ABC News
- Oct. 13Cobb County police's Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which oversees ride inspections, is "conducting an in-depth and comprehensive review," a spokesperson told the Associated Press. AP via PBS NewsHour, Oct. 13
- Oct. 13-14Six Flags said it temporarily closed nine coasters in six parks "out of an abundance of caution," and that they are similar to Goliath, which uses a lap bar to hold riders. It has not said the rides are unsafe. Six Flags statement, via AP and ABC News
What we don't know
- Why he was ejected. Neither agency has said what caused it, and we don't suggest one.
- When the nine closed coasters will reopen. Six Flags has not said.
- When police or the state will release findings. No timeline has been given.
What happens next
Police and the state's ride-safety office continue their investigations. We'll update this when either releases its findings.
Chapters
- 0:00Six Flags Goliath: what we know
- 0:19Hassan Kariem: who he was
- 0:34Goliath, Six Flags Over Georgia: what happened
- 1:08Six Flags Goliath: who is investigating
- 1:25Six Flags: nine coasters closed
- 1:47Six Flags Goliath: what we don't know
Sources
- Associated Press via PBS NewsHour (Mike Stewart and Hallie Golden), Oct. 13, 2026 Reportingpbs.org/newshour/nation/police-investigate-mans-fatal-fall-off-six-flags-roller-coaster-in-georgia
- ABC News reporting on the identification and Six Flags statement, Oct. 13-14, 2026
- Cobb County Police Department statements, Oct. 12-13, 2026 (as reported by AP and ABC News)
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner statement, Oct. 13, 2026 (as reported by AP)
- Six Flags statement, Oct. 13-14, 2026 (as reported by AP and ABC News)
The record · as of Oct. 16, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
What happens next
Verified timeline
- 2026-10-12Just before 4 p.m., Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was ejected from the Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia (Mableton, Cobb County), struck other patrons and landed beneath the ride, Cobb County police say; he died. Police have not stated a cause for the ejection.AP via PBS NewsHour; WSB-TV; Gray/WBTV
- 2026-10-12Several other people were hurt; WSB-TV reports four were taken to hospital. Riders stranded on the coaster were helped down; park evacuated.WSB-TV; Gray/WBTV; AP
- 2026-10-13Cobb County police identified the man as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta.Cobb County police via AP/PBS; WSB-TV; Gray/WBTV
- 2026-10-13Cobb County police Major Crimes Unit and Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner are investigating; the state office said it is conducting an in-depth and comprehensive review. No cause announced; no charges or suspect.AP via PBS NewsHour; WSB-TV
- 2026-10-13Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters across six parks 'out of an abundance of caution'; said they are similar to Goliath, which uses only a lap bar. It has not said the rides are unsafe.AP via PBS NewsHour; Gray/WBTV
- 2026-10-14Six Flags Over Georgia announced it would reopen Friday Oct. 16; Goliath stays closed with no anticipated reopening date, per the park president's statement.Gray/WBTV; ABC News; FOX 5 Atlanta
Also in our research file
- Beloved Atlanta teacher killed in Six Flags roller coaster accident remembered ReportingAtlanta News First · Oct. 14, 2026
- State investigating Six Flags death; ride was inspected before season ReportingWRDW · Oct. 14, 2026
- 'Sunshine of our family': Family remembers man killed at Six Flags ReportingFOX 5 Atlanta · Oct. 13, 2026
- WSB-TV: Man who died falling from Goliath identified, hit other riders Reportingwsbtv.com
- Gray/WBTV: Six Flags Over Georgia set to reopen Friday (Oct. 14, 2026) Reportingwbtv.com
- Gray/WBTV: Man who fell to his death identified (Oct. 13, 2026) Reportingwbtv.com
- Six Flags Closes Nine Roller Coasters SecondaryTravelPulse · Oct. 13, 2026
Updates and corrections
- UPDATE (Oct. 16, 2026): At least 10 similar rides closed. Six Flags has now closed at least 10 rides similar to Goliath at six parks in the U.S. and Canada. Goliath remains closed, and neither Cobb County police nor the state has released a cause. (ABC News)
Map data: U.S. Census TIGER (public domain)
NOTE: Everything here is what police, the state and Six Flags have said publicly. No footage or photos of the incident are shown.
Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.
