NewzPolice identified the man who died after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday as a 42-year-old who worked at a charter school near Atlanta. (AP) — A 42-year-old man killed while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia was thrown from his seat and struck other patrons before landing below the ride, police said Tuesday.Visitors at the theme park near Atlanta described watching him fall out of the coaster to his death Monday, causing the theme park operator to temporarily close nine similar roller coasters nationwide.Investigators say they spoke with park visitors and employees who saw what happened. No one has released information about how he ended up coming out of his seat.The man who died was 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, according to Cobb County police.
Officials have not released any other information about those who were injured when they were struck by the man.Kariem worked as the information technology manager at a public charter school in Atlanta and before that was the school’s technology teacher, according to an online resume.The park in Mableton, about 14 miles (22 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, already was scheduled to be closed Tuesday. One of Goliath’s other trains could be seen on the ride’s first hill Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped after the man fall from another train.Witnesses describe seeing a man fly out of the roller coasterLogan Conner said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he told NBC. “We made direct eye contact with him.”Britny Landry had been on the ride earlier Monday and was waiting in line to go again.“We just look, and I just see somebody fly out,” she told WAGA-TV.
She said she wasn't sure at first what she saw. “Maybe somebody had a bag or something.”Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, said the man's next of kin have been notified.“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” Cupid said. “We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories.”Six Flags closes roller coasters elsewhereSix Flags said in a statement that it has temporarily shut down nine similar roller coasters at six of its theme parks in the U.S.
Those parks were already scheduled for seasonal midweek closures on Tuesday and Wednesday.The affected rides include a second c… An Atlanta man killed on a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia was thrown from the ride and struck other patrons before landing below, police said Tuesday. One of Goliath’s other trains remained on its track Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped after the incident as it was climbing the ride’s first hill.Witnesses describe seeing a man fly out of the roller coasterLogan Conner said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he told NBC.
temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six amusement parks “out of an abundance of caution,” according to a company spokesperson. (AP) — An Atlanta man killed on a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia was thrown from the ride and struck other patrons before landing below, police said Tuesday.The man who died Monday was 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, according to Cobb County police.Visitors at the theme park near Atlanta described watching the man being tossed from the coaster train and falling to his death, causing the theme park operator to temporarily close nine similar roller coasters nationwide.Several other people were hurt but officials have not released any information about their injuries or conditions.Authorities and Six Flags did not identify the ride associated with the man's death, but local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath roller coaster.The park already was scheduled to be closed Tuesday. One of Goliath's trains remained on its track Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped as it was climbing the ride's first hill.Witnesses describe seeing a man fly out of the roller coasterLogan Conner said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he told NBC.
“Maybe somebody had a bag or something.”Cobb County Police Department detectives are among those investigating.Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, said the man's next of kin have been notified.“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” Cupid said.
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