Man dies after falling from Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, park shuts nine rides
A rider fell from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, resulting in one death and multiple injuries, prompting the operator to temporarily close nine attractions nationwide.
A man fell from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Wednesday, leading to his death and injuries to several other guests. The incident occurred as the train was ascending the lift hill, and witnesses reported the rider striking the coaster car multiple times before falling onto a nearby haunted-house structure.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, and park staff evacuated guests from the area. Six Flags announced the temporary closure of nine rides at its parks across the United States while the investigation continues.
"Once I saw the girl and the loose safety bar, my stomach dropped and I was terrified," said CiCi Nelson, who was waiting in line for the ride. She added that a delay with her mobile ticket may have kept her group off the coaster.
Ben Edwards, a visitor from Canada who was trapped on the coaster for about an hour after the accident, told a local affiliate, "Being stuck up there, some people are really scared of that stuff, so they need to do better."
The Goliath coaster, a 200-foot hypercoaster introduced in 2006 by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, is rated as a high-thrill attraction on the park’s website. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the largest regional theme-park operator in the United States, has faced scrutiny following a recent investigation into injuries on other rides.
Police have not released details on the cause of the fall or the number of injuries. The park’s season-ticket holder Rahim Hakmati said security directed guests away as the ride remained stopped on the lift hill before the evacuation was completed.