Six Flags to fit Goliath with seatbelts after 165-foot fatal fall
The company will retrofit the Georgia coaster and similar rides following the ejection and death of a 42-year-old rider.
By Khalid Khalil ·
Six Flags will install seatbelts on the Goliath rollercoaster at its Georgia park following the fatal fall of a rider earlier this month.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old father and educator, was ejected from his seat during a ride. He struck other cars as he fell from the attraction, which features a 165-foot drop followed by an 180-foot plunge. Authorities in Georgia have opened an investigation into the death.
The company temporarily closed Goliath and eight other rides at five different parks. CEO John Reilly wrote on Friday that the incident deeply affected the team and that safety remains fundamental to the guest experience.
Reilly announced that seatbelts will also be installed on other coasters using similar restraint systems, though he did not name specific rides. Goliath currently uses a lap bar design produced by Bolliger & Mabillard. The park has also hired an independent reviewer to examine safety procedures for all its attractions.
The incident occurs as Six Faces faces a lawsuit over alleged bodily harm from its X2 ride at Magic Mountain. Court documents describe a group of former riders accusing the park of negligence and operating a defective coaster. A recent investigation by CNN found a record of brain injuries and at least two deaths linked to that attraction. Six Flags permanently closed X2 in September.
"I know trust is earned through actions and not words," Reilly said. "We will continue to communicate about our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you."
