What we know about the man who died falling from a Six Flags rollercoaster
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died on Monday after police say he was ejected from a ride at a Six Flags amusement park in Georgia.
Key points
- Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after falling from a Six Flags Over Georgia rollercoaster on Monday.
- Police say he was ejected and struck other patrons before falling beneath the ride.
- Six Flags temporarily closed nine rides across the US and Canada as a precaution.
A 42-year-old man died after falling from a rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, according to Cobb County police. The man was identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who lived in Atlanta.
Police said the incident happened just before 16:00 local time. In a statement, the department said Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction. The ride involved has not been officially named, but witnesses and aerial footage pointed to the Goliath rollercoaster.
Safety reviews and ride closures
Six Flags, the largest amusement park operator in North America, said it was deeply saddened by the incident and extended condolences to Kariem's family and loved ones. The company temporarily closed nine rides across the US and Canada as a precaution.
The office of Georgia's insurance and fire safety commissioner, which enforces amusement park safety rules, is also conducting a review. Officials have not held a news conference on the incident.
Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community.
— Wesley International Academy
Witness accounts and victim background
Witness Nick Mendenhall told the AP he saw the man come out of his seat and fall into another cart before hitting the ground. He described the scene as "super, super bizarre, traumatic." Connor Thompson told CBS News he was in line when people began yelling, "Call 911! Someone fell out!" and later saw the restraint was unlatched. Another witness, CiCi Nelson, told CNN she saw an empty seat with a loose safety bar and a female covered in blood.
Kariem's family said he was a father and passionate educator who had survived cancer twice, most recently in 2018. He lived in Atlanta and worked for more than 12 years at Wesley International Academy as an IT manager, technology teacher and robotics coach. The school said his absence would be felt throughout the community.
