Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta educator, died Monday after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, prompting Cobb County police investigations, temporary closures of similar rides nationwide, and widespread tributes from the community.
On Monday, October 12, 2026, a routine holiday excursion turned tragic at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia. Operating under a warm afternoon sky as area schools enjoyed Fall Break, the park’s signature hypercoaster reached a top speed of 70 miles an hour and an elevation of 200 feet before the fatal incident occurred.
Investigators from the Cobb County Police Department identified the victim as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an Atlanta resident and teacher at Wesley International Academy. Police officers responding to the scene found Kariem unresponsive and not breathing beneath the ride structure shortly before 4 p.m.
NEW: What kind of questions could investigators be asking after a man fell out of a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia? I shared some of my thoughts on this horrible situation on @WGNMorningNews today: https://t.co/uILh7iLsvb
Witness Accounts and Immediate Aftermath on Goliath
Eyewitnesses aboard the ride and waiting in the midway described a sudden sequence of events that left passengers in hysterics. Logan Conner, who was riding with his fiancé, reported seeing Kariem leave his seat.
The man started levitating in the air sideways, We made direct eye contact with him.
Logan Conner, passenger
Another eyewitness, Nick Mendenhall, told the media that he rode the roller coaster with his son ten minutes prior to the tragedy, observing how the victim came up out of his seat and went forward.
BREAKING: A person died Monday following an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Six Flags said it is cooperating with local authorities as they investigate the incident. pic.twitter.com/56XwxwprSa
You know, his body motion went forward and then he came down head first back into the roller coaster car.
Nick Mendenhall, eyewitness
Other witnesses reported seeing Kariem strike parts of the ride structure before hitting the ground. Park personnel halted the ride mid-course, and aerial footage showed stranded riders being guided down a stairway along the tracks by staff around 5 p.m. Four juveniles were among those injured during the incident, according to Cobb County police updates released Wednesday.
Nationwide Ride Closures Across Six Flags Properties
Out of an abundance of caution, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation temporarily closed nine similar rides across North American locations. The sweeping safety halts encompass major steel coasters manufactured by Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard, including Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, and Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois. Comparable hypercoasters at Canada’s Wonderland, Carowinds, and Kings Island were also idled.
The corporate response follows a turbulent period for the amusement park operator. In September, Six Flags was named in lawsuits over brain injuries alleged on the X2 coaster at Magic Mountain—a ride subsequently retired because park president Brian Oerding deemed it the right step for safety confidence. The combined company has sold seven parks this year while working to pay down approximately $5 billion in debt.
Tributes Pour In for Atlanta Educator Hassan Kariem
As investigators and state inspectors from Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire examine the accident, family members and school communities mourned a man remembered for his resilience and dedication.
Hassan Kariem, 42, died after falling from a Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster. A family friend who described him as a “fighter” says he survived cancer and a battle with COVID. He and his daughter survived a car fire just weeks ago, she said. https://t.co/yZibkxMSjC
Family members shared that Kariem was a two-time cancer survivor who had also walked away unharmed from a fiery car crash alongside his 10-year-old daughter just three weeks prior. Wesley International Academy released a statement honoring him as a beloved colleague, friend, and integral part of the Wesley family for more than 12 years.
His love for Wesley, dedication to our students, and commitment to our school community were evident in everything he did.
Wesley International Academy, school statement
In an official statement addressing the tragedy, Six Flags Over Georgia Park President Richard Pretlow expressed deep sorrow.
UPDATE: 42 year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem has been identified as the man killed on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia yesterday. Kariem was a staff member at the Wesley International Academy in the Atlanta Public Schools.Kariem's family released this photo… pic.twitter.com/YkAfztcAZF
We were deeply saddened by the recent incident at the park.
Richard Pretlow, Six Flags Over Georgia Park President
Pretlow added that staff cooperated fully with local authorities, while park representatives confirmed that Goliath will remain closed indefinitely pending the conclusion of reviews by Cobb County investigators and state inspectors.
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