Man dies after falling from Six Flags Over Georgia's Goliath coaster

A 42-year-old man was thrown from the Goliath hypercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday, killing him and injuring four other parkgoers. According to his 13-year-old niece, who was riding with him, the man fainted before his safety latch released, causing him to fall from the ride.

"What she told me on that phone call, she said he fainted, or he passed out," said Joshua Nelson, the girl's father and the victim's brother-in-law, speaking to a local television station.

Police found the victim unresponsive and not breathing beneath the coaster. A statement from the Cobb County Police Department said preliminary witness and employee interviews indicated he was ejected, struck other patrons, and then fell beneath the attraction. Four children who were also on the ride sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital.

"I have not suffered any physical injuries but it has been on my mind very recently through these past days," said Six Flags supervisor KeJuan Taylor, who was the first employee to locate the victim after the fall.

The park announced that it would reopen on Friday, though the Goliath coaster would remain temporarily closed pending investigation. The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are conducting a joint investigation.