Police identify 42-year-old man killed after being ejected from Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster

A 42-year-old man died after being ejected from a roller coaster at a Six Flags amusement park in Georgia, police said.

The man — Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, of Atlanta — was found dead beneath the ride at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, according to the Cobb County Police Department.

“Preliminary information gathered through witness and employee interviews indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction,” the Cobb County Police Department said in a statement on Tuesday. “Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The state’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which is responsible for the safety of amusement park rides in Georgia, also said it is “actively investigating” the incident.

“Our investigative team is conducting an in‑depth and comprehensive review to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure full compliance with all applicable policies and procedures,” Garrison Bennett, the agency’s press secretary, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Several people were also injured in the incident, which occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Monday at the Atlanta-area amusement park, according to police.

Distraught witnesses described the horrific incident to a local station, saying they saw a man fall from the amusement park’s Goliath roller coaster and hit the ride several times, and that the fall was captured on their souvenir pictures.

Riders on the Goliath were seen being evacuated off the roller coaster on Monday, after it stopped near the top of the ride.

A Six Flags spokesperson said that the “park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation.”

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Monday. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected.”

The Goliath roller coaster reaches an elevation of 200 feet and speeds up to 70 mph, according to the amusement park’s website. The ride first opened in 2006 at the amusement park, located west of Atlanta in Austell.

The manufacturer of the Goliath coaster, Switzerland-based Bolliger & Mabillard, said the company is “deeply saddened by this tragic accident.”

“Our thoughts are with the family and those affected,” Olivier Bolliger of Bolliger & Mabillard said in a statement Tuesday. “We are actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened.”

The Six Flags spokesperson said that “out of an abundance of caution,” the theme park company has “temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks.”

Six Flags is not releasing additional information on the incident at this time “out of respect for the family’s privacy,” the spokesperson added.

Kariem worked for the Atlanta Public Schools, a spokesperson for the school district confirmed Tuesday, calling him a “cherished member of the Wesley International Academy.”

His “presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with everyone mourning his loss during this difficult time.”