Six Flags to install seatbelts on Goliath after fatal rider ejection in Georgia
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was thrown from the 165-foot drop coaster earlier this month, colliding with other cars during descent.
What happened
On an unspecified date this month, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old father and educator, was ejected from his seat on the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and struck other ride cars during his fall. The Goliath features a 165-foot initial drop followed by a 180-foot second drop and uses a lap-bar restraint system. Six Flags CEO John Reilly announced the park will install seatbelts on the Goliath and similar rides with comparable restraint systems across its parks. Georgia authorities have opened an investigation into the death. Six Flags temporarily closed the Goliath and eight rides at five other parks following the incident.
Context
The fatal ejection has triggered operational and legal consequences for Six Flags. The park commissioned an independent safety review of all attractions and pledged accountability measures. The incident occurs amid separate litigation from riders injured on Six Flags Magic Mountain's X2 coaster, which a CNN investigation linked to a pattern of brain injuries and at least two deaths; that ride was permanently shut down in September. The company faces reputational risk tied to safety perceptions across its operations, and the Kariem death signals pressure to retrofit or redesign restraint systems on existing rides.