A fatal incident on a major roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia left one person dead and multiple others injured on Monday afternoon, prompting the amusement park company to temporarily close similar rides across the country.
One person died and multiple other individuals were injured after an incident occurred on the Goliath roller coaster on Monday afternoon, according to reports from FOX 5 Atlanta and the Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications. The emergency response began at approximately 3:58 p.m. at the amusement park located in Austell, Georgia, roughly 10 to 15 miles north-west of downtown Atlanta.
Officers assigned to the park, along with uniformed patrol officers and emergency crews, rushed to the scene. Detectives from the Cobb County Police’s Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event.
Witnesses Describe the Tragedy
Park-goers reported harrowing scenes as the incident unfolded on the 200-foot-tall hypercoaster. Witnesses speaking to local media described seeing a man come out of his seat while the ride was in motion. One witness stated that the man appeared to be riding with his son, while other family members watched from the ground. Another witness, Logan Conner, told NBC News that he made direct eye contact with the rider as he came out of his seat.
Multiple witnesses reported that the man struck parts of the ride structure and vehicles before coming down, with some accounts noting he fell onto the roof of a haunted house attraction below or into nearby wooded areas. Video footage showed other passengers being safely escorted and evacuated from the Goliath coaster after the ride came to a sudden halt on the track and paused mid-operation. Theme park representatives stated that park staff and local authorities responded immediately.
We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,
a Six Flags spokesperson said in a statement. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones.
The park added that it was fully cooperating with authorities and providing support to affected guests and employees.
Six Flags Closes Similar Rides
Six Flags announced it had temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six other amusement parks nationwide out of an abundance of caution.
According to NBC News, the affected rides include Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America; Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain; Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure; Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland; Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds; and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island.
Designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers of Switzerland, the Goliath ride at Six Flags Over Georgia opened in 2006. The high-speed hypercoaster features an elevation of 200 feet, a 170-foot plunge, a 540-degree spiral, and top speeds reaching 70 mph over a roughly three-and-a-half-minute ride.
Cobb County Commission Chair Lisa Cupid released a statement expressing sorrow for the community and noting that next of kin had been notified. We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories,
Cupid said.
Just weeks prior, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced it was permanently retiring its famous X2 roller coaster following lawsuits and investigations concerning serious injuries and guest safety concerns.
As state safety officials, local police, and detectives continue their investigation into Monday’s tragedy, authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death, the specific nature of the injuries sustained by others, or the formal identity of the deceased man.
