Six Flags to install seat belts on Goliath coaster after fatal ejection
Six Flags announced it will add seat belts to the Goliath roller coaster at its Georgia park and is reviewing safety procedures following a man's death on the ride.
Six Flags said on Friday it will equip the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia with seat belts as part of a broader safety review after a 42-year-old man was ejected and fell to his death on Oct. 12. The park said the ride will remain closed while the modifications are made, along with several other attractions across five parks that were shut "out of an abundance of caution."
John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags, said in a statement, "> I know trust is earned through actions and not words. As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally. We will continue to communicate about our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you."
The company has engaged independent engineers and ride-inspection specialists to review safety procedures across its portfolio. More than 220 of Six Flags' roller coasters remain in operation, according to the statement. The victim, identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, worked for the Atlanta Public Schools district; witnesses said his body struck other riders before landing on a nearby haunted-house roof.