A 42-year-old man was killed after being ejected from a roller coaster at a Six Flags amusement park near Atlanta last week, prompting investigations and renewed calls for more consistent safety oversight in the amusement park industry.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem fell to his death on Monday while riding Goliath, the tallest roller coaster in Georgia and a flagship attraction at the Six Flags park in Cobb County. Authorities from the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner and the Cobb County Police Department are jointly investigating the incident. The death has raised questions about accountability, especially given the fragmented regulatory framework governing ride safety in the United States.
In Georgia, amusement rides undergo annual inspections conducted by the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which includes evaluations of mechanical conditions and safety equipment. The office confirmed that Goliath passed its most recent inspection on March 16. The ongoing investigation will involve a full review of the ride's records, with potential criminal charges pending based on state findings, according to Deputy Chief Damon Ballard of the Cobb County Police.
The regulation of amusement rides varies widely by state. For example, North Carolina’s safety oversight is managed by its Department of Labor, Ohio relies on its Department of Agriculture, and Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection is responsible. Industry groups contend that many states apply recognized safety standards, while parks themselves have strong incentives to maintain safety to protect their customers and reputation.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) emphasized that guest safety is a core priority and noted that roller coaster fatalities are rare. Statistics cited by the group suggest that deaths on roller coasters are far less common than other rare fatal events, such as lightning strikes. However, some researchers and lawmakers have expressed concern about the lack of a centralized federal authority and comprehensive data collection for amusement park injuries. Tracy Mehan of the Center for Injury Research and Policy highlighted that the most recent nationwide study on amusement park injuries was published in 2013 and that many incidents likely go unreported.
Historical data indicate that over the decade ending in 2004, there were about 40 deaths on roller coasters in the United States, including both park employees and passengers. Most passenger deaths were attributed to medical conditions exacerbated by the rides, while others resulted from falls or collisions.
The incident at Six Flags comes as another ride at the company, the X2 roller coaster in California, remains closed amid lawsuits alleging severe brain injuries from the ride’s design and insufficient warnings. Six Flags has denied that the ride caused fatal injuries in prior legal filings.
Some lawmakers, including Representative André Carson of Indiana and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, have advocated for federal oversight of amusement park safety. Carson is working to grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission authority over the industry. However, IAAPA opposes federal regulation, arguing that strengthening existing state programs is a better approach. Martin Lewison, a roller coaster expert affiliated with IAAPA, stated that riding roller coasters today is safer than ever, describing the restraint system on Goliath and its electronic safety features, though it remains unclear if any safety mechanisms failed in the recent accident.
Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss firm that engineered Goliath, expressed condolences and said it is investigating the incident but declined to comment on the ride design. Following the fatality, Six Flags temporarily closed Goliath and similar coasters at other parks "out of an abundance of caution."
The closures come amid broader financial challenges for Six Flags, whose stock price has declined in recent years. The company is also facing a class-action lawsuit alleging it deferred necessary maintenance and operational improvements prior to its planned merger with Cedar Park. Six Flags has refrained from commenting on the litigation.