The precautionary shutdown extends across six amusement parks while authorities investigate the death of a rider on Goliath near Atlanta.
AUSTELL, Ga. — Six Flags temporarily closed nine roller coasters at six parks after a man died in an incident involving the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, expanding the immediate response to the tragedy beyond the Georgia amusement park while investigators work to determine what went wrong.
The company said the additional attractions were closed out of an abundance of caution because they are similar to the coaster involved in Monday’s incident. The move affected rides at several Six Flags properties in the United States and Canada. It came as Cobb County police and Georgia safety regulators opened investigations into the death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta.
The attractions identified as temporarily closed included Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California and Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. The precaution also covered Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds, and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island. Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia remained at the center of the investigation.
Kariem died after the incident shortly before 4 p.m. Monday. Cobb County police said preliminary information gathered through interviews with witnesses and employees indicated he was ejected from the ride, struck other patrons and fell beneath the attraction. Several people were injured. Officials have not released a final explanation for the ejection or said whether investigators have identified a mechanical, operational or other cause.
The Georgia park shut down after the incident as emergency crews and law enforcement responded. Television images showed riders being escorted from the stopped Goliath train using an emergency stairway along the coaster’s large first hill. Six Flags said park employees and local authorities responded immediately and that the company was cooperating with investigators.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire said Tuesday that it had launched a comprehensive review. The agency said investigators would examine the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether applicable policies and procedures were followed. Because the investigation remains open, the agency said it was not releasing further details.
The wider coaster closures represent a precaution rather than a finding that the other attractions are unsafe. Authorities have not publicly concluded that Goliath suffered a mechanical failure, and Six Flags has not announced a defect affecting the rides that were temporarily taken out of service. The company’s action allows the attractions to remain closed while the Georgia incident is reviewed.
Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia has operated since 2006. The park describes the steel hypercoaster as reaching 200 feet, with a 170-foot first drop and speeds of about 70 mph. The coaster was manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, and riders must be at least 54 inches tall, according to the park’s published ride information.
The closures add a national dimension to an investigation that began with a single ride near Atlanta. Six Flags has not announced when all of the affected coasters will return to service, and Georgia investigators have not released a timetable for completing their work. For now, officials say the circumstances that led to Kariem’s death remain under investigation.
Author note: Last updated October 13, 2026.