Six Flags to Add Seat Belts to Goliath Roller Coaster After Fatal Fall

Six Flags said it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster and other rides that use comparable restraint systems after a 42-year-old man died when he fell from the attraction at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12. The coaster, which reaches speeds of 70 mph and climbs 200 feet, currently uses a waist restraint but lacks an over-the-shoulder harness. The ride remains closed while independent engineers and ride-inspection specialists conduct safety reviews.

John Reilly, Six Flags President and CEO, told guests and passholders that the company is reinforcing safety precautions across its parks. > "Safety has always been fundamental to the experience we provide for our guests," he said, adding that ride operators undergo a multi-stage training program that includes classroom instruction, hands-on training and supervised on-the-job experience.

In addition to Goliath, eight other rides at five Six Flags locations are temporarily closed as a precaution, though more than 220 roller coasters across the chain continue to operate. Police reports indicated the victim was ejected from the coaster, struck other riders and was found unresponsive beneath the track. State investigators are reviewing the incident to determine compliance with safety regulations.

The park reopened for its annual Halloween Fright Fest events, but Goliath stayed closed pending further findings. Reilly emphasized that the company will act on the investigation’s results, stating, "I know trust is earned through actions and not words. As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally."