Six Flags to Add Seatbelts to Goliath Roller Coaster After Father Falls to His Death
Six Flags to Add Seatbelts to Goliath Roller Coaster After Father Falls to His Death
Six Flags has announced plans to install additional safety restraints on its Goliath roller coaster in Georgia after a 42-year-old man was ejected from the ride and died earlier this month.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an Atlanta father, educator and robotics coach, died on October 12 while riding Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, west of Atlanta.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, preliminary witness and employee accounts indicated that Kariem was ejected from the roller coaster and struck other riders before falling beneath the attraction. Several other guests were reportedly injured in the incident.
Kariem had been visiting the amusement park with family members to celebrate his niece’s birthday. A relative told ABC News that the 42-year-old was seated beside his niece when he was thrown from the ride.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal incident remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet determined what caused Kariem to leave his seat.
On October 23, Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly announced that the company would add seatbelts to Goliath and other roller coasters with similar restraint systems.
The Goliath currently uses a padded lap-bar restraint that locks over a rider’s waist and upper legs. The planned seatbelts are intended to provide an additional layer of protection.
The company has also commissioned independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its parks. Eight additional roller coasters at five other parks in the United States and Canada were temporarily closed as a precaution.
Those attractions share a similar restraint design and were manufactured by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard. Six Flags has not announced a reopening date for the affected rides, saying they will remain closed until the necessary safety reviews and clearances are complete.
In a statement, Reilly said the tragedy had deeply affected the company and that Six Flags was committed to strengthening its safety practices.
Kariem’s death has prompted renewed scrutiny of amusement park ride safety, particularly the restraints used on high-speed roller coasters. However, investigators have not announced whether a problem with the ride’s restraint system contributed to the accident.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Sources: DAILYMAIL
