NewsWSVN 7 MiamiOctober 24, 2026Miami-Dade County
Six Flags adds seat belts to Goliath roller coaster following fatal incident at Georgia park
Photo: WSVN 7 Miami
Six Flags announced it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster and other similar rides following the fatal fall of a rider earlier this month. The ride remains closed pending independent safety reviews and ongoing state investigations.
Read the full story at WSVN 7 MiamiWhy It Matters
Park visitors face changes to ride restraint systems and temporary closures of nine attractions across five parks while safety procedures are independently reviewed.
Key Facts
- Six Flags announced it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster and other roller coasters with similar restraints.
- The announcement follows the death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who fell from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12.
- Goliath and eight other rides across five additional Six Flags parks remain temporarily closed pending safety reviews.
- Six Flags has engaged independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its attractions.
- Goliath is a 3.5-minute ride reaching 70 mph and a height of 200 feet, featuring a waist restraint but no over-the-shoulder harness.
- Preliminary information indicated Kariem had been ejected from the ride, striking other riders before falling beneath the roller coaster.
- Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King and state authorities are investigating whether state safety requirements were followed.
- Goliath's most recent annual state safety inspection on March 16 reported no violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags.
- A separate inspection report earlier this year noted that bushings used to reduce vibration on Goliath needed replacement.
Who's Mentioned
locationSix Flags Over Georgia“Amusement park where the fatal incident occurred.”OrganizationCable News Network, Inc.“Copyright holder of the news wire article.”OrganizationCobb County Police Department“Local police department investigating the incident.”OrganizationWSB“CNN affiliate reporting on inspection records.”OrganizationCNN“News organization reporting on the incident and safety records.”OrganizationTime Warner Company“Parent company associated with the news wire.”PersonCiCi Nelson“Witness who observed the aftermath of the incident in line.”OrganizationSix Flags“Amusement park company operating Goliath and other properties.”PersonJohn Reilly“Six Flags President and CEO.”PersonHassan Jihad Ibn Kariem“42-year-old Atlanta resident who died after falling from the Goliath roller coas”PersonJohn King“Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.”OrganizationGeorgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner“State office investigating whether safety requirements were followed.”