COBB COUNTY, GA — Cobb County police have identified the man killed in an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta.
The incident happened Monday afternoon at the metro Atlanta amusement park, leaving Kariem dead and several others injured.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, officers working at the park responded to the incident around 3:58 p.m. and found Kariem underneath the roller coaster, unresponsive and not breathing.
Preliminary information gathered through interviews with witnesses and park employees indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other passengers before falling beneath the attraction.
Kariem previously worked for Atlanta Public Schools. The district is extending its deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. Kariem. APS officials say he was a cherished member of the Wesley International Academy.
Emergency crews responded to the scene, and riders were evacuated from the Goliath roller coaster. Six Flags Over Georgia closed for the remainder of Monday as authorities continued investigating.
Goliath is a hyper-coaster that reaches approximately 200 feet in height and features a 12-story drop and a 540-degree spiral.
Police say Kariem’s next of kin have been notified of his death.
The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is leading the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.