PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — A man fell to his death Monday afternoon while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, an incident that has brought amusement park safety to the forefront of public discussion. Cobb County police identified the victim as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, of Atlanta.
The fatality occurred on the Goliath coaster. In response, Six Flags Over Georgia has closed the Goliath and several other rides. Six Flags representatives stated the park is scheduled to reopen Friday and that staff are cooperating with police in their ongoing investigation. A spokesperson for Six Flags expressed deep sadness regarding the incident, extending thoughts and condolences to the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. The spokesperson also indicated that support is being provided to other guests and team members affected, adding that no additional details would be shared out of respect for the family’s privacy.
According to the Doan Law Firm, which tracks amusement park deaths, this incident marks at least the eighth death at Six Flags Over Georgia since its opening in 1967.
In East Tennessee, the incident highlights the rigorous safety protocols in place at Dollywood, which sees millions of visitors annually and is recognized as one of the country's most popular theme park destinations. Safety is a primary concern for the park, with staff beginning their extensive ride checks hours before guests arrive.
Senior Rides Maintenance Manager Eric Etherton discussed these procedures in a 2024 interview. Etherton detailed the daily inspection regimen for rides, specifically mentioning the Thunderhead, an iconic wooden coaster. He explained that safety crews begin their work approximately four hours before the park opens its gates to visitors. During these daily checks, personnel meticulously traverse the ride’s upper and lower sections, physically assessing its stability and security. This includes verifying that all fasteners are securely in place and identifying any conditions that might be out of the ordinary.
Etherton emphasized the commitment of these safety crews, noting that these comprehensive daily checks are conducted regardless of environmental conditions, whether it is raining, snowing, or in extreme cold or hot weather. The process involves walking along stair-like paths integrated into the coaster’s structure. Beyond daily assessments, rides at Dollywood also undergo more extensive weekly and annual inspections. On an annual basis, crews meticulously climb and inspect all the numerous wooden components of the Thunderhead coaster to ensure the integrity of its timbers. Furthermore, once a year, every single bolt on every coaster within the park is individually inspected. Etherton highlighted the scale of this task by noting that the Thunderhead alone, with its thousands of bolts, requires nearly a full month to complete its annual bolt inspection process.