What happened at Six Flags Over Georgia?
A man died at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, Oct 12, after he was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster, struck other riders and fell beneath the ride, according to Cobb County Police's preliminary findings.
Other riders were injured. Police and Georgia's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are investigating; no cause has been announced. Six Flags has temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters at six other parks.
Updated · Cobb County Police. This page is updated daily while the story is developing.
- Death: the rider was found unresponsive beneath the ride
- 1
- When officers at the park responded, Monday Oct 12
- 3:58pm
- Similar coasters Six Flags closed at six other parks, no reopening date
- 9
What has happened
Dates are local dates in Russia unless noted.
Around 3:58pm, officers working at Six Flags Over Georgia respond to an incident on the Goliath roller coaster and find a male rider unresponsive beneath the ride. Riders still on the coaster are evacuated down an emergency stairway.
Source: CBS News Atlanta; NBC News
Cobb County says one person has died and others were injured, and that the police Major Crimes Unit is investigating.
Source: Cobb County
Police say preliminary findings from witness and employee interviews indicate the man was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction. Police release the man's identity; this page does not repeat it.
Source: CBS News Atlanta; NBC News
Georgia's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire says its investigative team is conducting an in-depth review. Ride manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard says it is actively investigating. Six Flags gives no date for reopening the closed coasters.
Source: The Center Square; ABC News
Questions people are asking
What happened at Six Flags Over Georgia?
On Monday, Oct 12, a man riding the Goliath roller coaster was ejected from the ride. Police say he struck other riders before falling beneath the attraction, where officers found him unresponsive and not breathing. He died, and other riders were hurt.
Source: CBS News Atlanta; NBC News; Cobb County
How did the man fall off the Goliath roller coaster?
Officials have not said. Police's account so far comes from witness and employee interviews; investigators are still examining the circumstances, and no cause, such as a restraint failure, has been confirmed.
Source: CBS News Atlanta; NBC News
How many people were hurt?
Cobb County says others were injured besides the man who died. Police have not released how many or their conditions.
Source: Cobb County; CBS News Atlanta; NBC News
Who is investigating?
The Cobb County Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating, alongside Georgia's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which inspects amusement rides in the state and says its team is conducting an in-depth review. The ride's maker, Bolliger & Mabillard, says it is also looking into the incident. Police ask anyone with information to call 770-499-3945.
Source: CBS News Atlanta; The Center Square; ABC News
Which roller coasters did Six Flags close?
Nine similar coasters at six other parks: Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure), Raging Bull (Six Flags Great America), Goliath (Six Flags Magic Mountain), Behemoth and Leviathan (Canada's Wonderland), Fury 325 and Thunder Striker (Carowinds), and Orion and Diamondback (Kings Island).
Is Goliath closed? When will the coasters reopen?
Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia was shut down on Monday. Six Flags has not given a date for reopening it or the nine coasters it closed at other parks.
Source: CBS News Atlanta; NBC News; ABC News
Has anyone died on Goliath before?
Yes. In 2006, the year the ride opened, a rider died after losing consciousness on Goliath; an investigation found he had a heart problem and that the coaster was working properly, and it reopened.
Source: NBC News
Where is Six Flags Over Georgia?
The park is in Austell, Cobb County, about 10 miles (16 km) west of downtown Atlanta. Goliath is a steel hypercoaster with a drop of more than 200 feet and speeds of about 70 mph.
Source: NBC News
Sources
- Cobb County: Statement from Chairwoman Cupid regarding tragedy at Six Flags Official · Oct 12
- CBS News Atlanta: Police identify Atlanta man killed after being ejected from Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster Oct 13
- NBC News: Georgia police identify man who fatally fell off Six Flags roller coaster Oct 13
- ABC News: Six Flags temporarily closes 9 other roller coasters after fatal incident in Georgia Oct 13
- The Center Square: Insurance Commissioner's office investigating amusement park death Oct 13