Six Flags Says Goliath Will Get Seat Belts After Fatal Georgia Fall as Investigators Review Safety and the Coaster Stays Closed

ATLANTA, GA — Six Flags says it will add seat belts to Goliath and other roller coasters with similar restraint systems after a man fell from the ride at Six Flags Over Georgia earlier this month and died. The company said Goliath remains closed while safety reviews and clearances continue.

The announcement came Friday as the company said it was broadening safety precautions across its parks. Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said independent engineers and ride inspection specialists have been brought in to review procedures on attractions throughout the chain.

The move marks a significant change for Goliath, a major attraction at the Georgia park, while investigators continue to piece together what happened on October 12. Several other parkgoers were injured in the incident, including four minors, according to police.

How the fatal ride incident unfolded at Six Flags Over Georgia

The man who died was identified by police as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta. Police said preliminary information from witnesses and employees indicated that he was ejected from the coaster, struck other riders and then fell beneath the ride.

Officers later found him unresponsive and not breathing, according to the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit. Authorities have not released a final determination on what caused the fatal fall.

One witness, CiCi Nelson, told CNN she was waiting in line for Goliath when a car returned with an empty seat and riders appeared to be in hysterics. She said the safety bar on the empty seat seemed loose and that another young passenger looked bloodied and injured.

Emergency crews arrived quickly, and park visitors were asked to leave the area. Nelson said the scene was chaotic as the response unfolded.

Why seat belts are being added to Goliath and other coasters

Goliath currently uses a waist restraint but does not have an over-the-shoulder harness. Six Flags said the addition of seat belts will affect Goliath and other rides with similar restraint designs across its parks.

Reilly said in a statement to guests and passholders that safety is central to the experience the company offers. He said the company is committed to studying the findings from the investigation and taking appropriate action.

He also said ride operators go through a multi-stage training process that includes classroom instruction, hands-on training and supervised work on the job. The company said additional instruction and evaluation are provided when needed.

Six Flags said the decision to add restraints is part of a wider safety push that includes work by outside engineers and ride inspection experts. The company did not say when the changes would be finished.

Other rides remain closed as the park keeps operating

Goliath is not the only ride affected. Six Flags said eight other rides at five additional parks are also temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.

The company emphasized that its parks remain open and said more than 220 roller coasters are operating across its properties. The closures, it said, are tied to the ongoing review of safety procedures and ride conditions.

Six Flags Over Georgia reopened last Friday for the park’s annual Halloween Fright Fest events, but Goliath stayed closed as families returned. Officials have not announced new findings from the incident at the park.

The timing means the company is balancing a major seasonal event with heightened scrutiny over one of its best-known attractions. For guests, the most visible change so far is that the ride remains off limits.

State and local investigators are still reviewing the death

Georgia authorities are investigating whether state safety requirements were followed. Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said investigators are reviewing evidence, equipment and documentation connected to the death.

Cobb County police are helping state and park officials with the investigation. CNN has also sought an update from Cobb County, the police department and the state fire commissioner’s office.

King said Goliath’s most recent state inspection, on March 16, reported no violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags. A separate inspection report earlier this year noted that bushings on the coaster needed replacement, according to CNN affiliate WSB.

Reilly said trust is earned through actions rather than words and said he takes the responsibility personally as CEO. The company says it will wait for the findings before deciding on any further steps.