COBB COUNTY, GA — New details are emerging after a person was killed and several others were injured in an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday.
Witnesses say a man was thrown from his seat while the roller coaster was operating. The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is now leading the investigation into what happened.
According to emergency dispatch audio obtained through the Crime Radar app, firefighters were sent to the amusement park after a report that someone had fallen from the ride.
“Someone has fallen off the Goliath ride,” a dispatcher said.
Logan Conner, who was on the roller coaster when the incident occurred, described witnessing the man being thrown from his seat.
“Every time I close my eyes I see that man in the air, he locked eyes with us,” Conner said.
Another rider, Cassidy Delancy, said she witnessed the man fall from his seat and strike the roller coaster car.
“A man slips out of his seat and he turns sideways, and he’s flipping in the air, he comes down, and he slams down on our cart,” Delancy said.
Conner and Delancy also described hearing unusual clicking noises coming from the ride’s safety restraints before the incident.
“I looked over at her and I told her something is going on, it just keeps clicking,” Conner said.
“Yeah it kept clicking like it was unlocking and relocking,” Delancy added.
Another witness, Fred, said he and his wife had just gotten off the roller coaster when they heard reports that someone had fallen. They later saw a girl with blood on her clothing.
Fred also described seeing images captured by the ride’s automatic camera.
“You could see images of the person out of the seat, so it looks like the belt dislodged and he flew out, and you could see him on the girl that we’re talking about on her row behind,” Fred said.
Authorities have not confirmed what caused the incident.
Following the accident, the roller coaster was stopped, leaving riders stranded on the attraction. Emergency crews and park employees helped evacuate the remaining passengers one by one.
The incident also prompted Six Flags Over Georgia to close for the remainder of Monday.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Six Flags expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. 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 statement read.
The park also said its staff and local authorities responded immediately and that it is cooperating fully with investigators.
Six Flags has since temporarily closed several roller coasters made by the same manufacturer at other parks across the country.
The closures follow a separate announcement involving a roller coaster at one of the company’s California parks that was shut down amid lawsuits alleging the attraction caused numerous brain injuries.
Goliath is one of Six Flags Over Georgia’s largest roller coasters, standing more than 200 feet tall and reaching speeds of approximately 70 mph.
At least seven deaths have been reported at Six Flags Over Georgia since the amusement park opened.
The Cobb County Police Department continues to investigate the deadly incident.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons, Keith Cromwell, & Michelle Wright contributed to this story.
