Man Dies After Falling From Roller Coaster at Six
A man died after falling from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, according to local police. Witnesses reported seeing the individual plunge from the Goliath attraction, and Cobb County authorities confirmed that several other people sustained injuries during the incident. “What makes this even crazier is that we were at Six Flags the night before and rode Goliath ourselves.
One witness told local media that the victim appeared to be captured in a souvenir photograph taken while riding the attraction. The Goliath ride, a fixture at the Atlanta-area park, lasts approximately 210 seconds and reaches speeds of 70 mph while climbing to an elevation of 200 feet. In response to the tragedy, Six Flags management announced they have temporarily closed similar attractions at sister parks across the United States out of an abundance of caution.
Park officials expressed their condolences in a statement, noting their deep sadness regarding the incident and offering support to the victim’s family and loved ones. The park, located about 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta, was open for the Columbus Day holiday but is scheduled to be closed Tuesday. Aerial footage captured the evacuation of other riders from the halted coaster, which had stopped on its lift hill during the event.
Season ticket holder Rahim Hakmati, who was at the park, observed large crowds departing as security secured the area around the ride. He noted that he had ridden the same attraction the previous evening without issue. While there are three roller coasters named Goliath across the Six Flags system—located in Georgia, Illinois, and California—each was constructed by a different manufacturer. The Georgia and California versions are categorized as hyper coasters, which prioritize speed and air time rather than inversions. According to hakmati, He heard someone say a person had fallen off Goliath. We didn’t notice anything unusual or experience any problems with the ride that night,” Hakmati said.
The fatality occurs shortly after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California moved to permanently retire its X2 roller coaster following an investigation into reports of significant injuries and two deaths. While company leadership previously stated that X2 had passed various safety inspections, they opted to close it to preserve guest confidence. Safety remains a foundational aspect of company operations, according to recent corporate communications. We have decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do.”, six Flags Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding wrote in a blog post that while the X2 roller coaster has “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests. He added, “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”. According to allegations that the Southern California thrill ride injured riders date back more than a decade, but had been largely kept under wraps until investigation this summer revealed more than a dozen, Of serious injuries and hospitalizations associated with the ride, including at least two deaths. Two women ended up in the same Santa Clarita emergency room with brain injuries after riding X2 just six days apart in July, most recently.
The incident at Six Flags Over Georgia marks a significant development for the organization, which became the largest amusement park operator in the United States following its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall to determine the cause of the fatal event. This story has been updated with additional information.
