Six Flags Witnesses Recall Horrifying Moment Man Flew Off Roller Coaster, 'The Sound Of His Body...'
Six Flags witnesses recall the horrifying moment Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem fell from the Goliath roller coaster
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleSix Flags Over Georgia witnesses are describing the terrifying moments when they saw a 42-year-old father of two fly off the Goliath roller coaster and plummet to his death before crashing into multiple riders and railings.
On October 12, 2026, the tragedy happened. One rider suddenly flew off the 200-foot-high coaster. His family and others on the ride helplessly watched him fall to his death.
Six Flags witnesses describe terrifying moments as man falls from Goliath
One of the witnesses, Bitnu Laundry, told TMZ that she was standing near Goliath when she saw what appeared to be a person fly off the ride and into a wooded area. She initially struggled to believe what she had seen, thinking the figure soaring toward a wooded area might have been a bag. Having ridden the same coaster earlier with her family, she found the scene especially difficult to process.
Another witness, who was riding the coaster with his fiancee, said that the man appeared to move sideways through the air before striking parts of the coaster. He recalled making direct eye contact with the man as he appeared to hover sideways in the air. The witness recalled:
"The man started levitating in the air sideways. We made direct eye contact with him."
Witnesses described the victim coming out of his seat and hitting the coaster train multiple times before the ride stopped. Another witness who had ridden Goliath with his son shortly before the incident was watching the coaster when he saw the man come out of his seat. He said the moment seemed to unfold in slow motion, leaving him hoping the man would somehow remain inside the car.
A witness identified as Summer Bates revealed that the memory of the whole incident was equally distressing. She said, "One thing I think that will stick with us is the sound of his body coming down."
Sharing her own experience riding the coaster earlier that day, Bates said her older children had been trying to push their restraint bars down more tightly during their ride. At the time, she reassured them that they were safe. However, when she later boarded the coaster with her husband and youngest child, she felt that the restraint did not seem as secure as she expected.
Who is the victim?
Cobb County police identified the victim as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta resident and father of two. Preliminary information gathered from witnesses and park employees indicated that he was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction, according to police.
Atlanta Public Schools also offered condolences to Kariem’s family and loved ones. His death has left his family and community grieving as investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
The tragedy unfolded at 3:58 p.m. on October 12, 2026. The Cobb County Police Department got a call stating that several people had been injured and one had died. An eyewitness shared that Hassan hit one of the ride's cars three times during the fall. Hassan was accompanied by his son on the ride, while his wife and daughter watched on from the ground.
The Six Flags Over Georgia's CCTV footage stills have also gone viral following the Goliath rollercoaster accident. For the uninitiated, Goliath is a hypercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. According to the website of the major amusement and theme park, Six Flags Over Georgia, the Goliath goes up to a height of 200 feet and reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. The ride features steep hills and sharp turns.
Six Flags temporarily shut down nine similar roller coasters across six theme parks in the United States and Canada as a precaution. The affected attractions included rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great Adventure, Carowinds, Canada’s Wonderland, and Kings Island. They wrote:
"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 park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time."
Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner confirmed that it was conducting a comprehensive review of the incident.
Image courtesy: Six Flags of Georgia
Read Next: Amy Robach And T.J. Holmes Tie The Knot In Secret Wedding, Four Years After Quitting 'GMA3'
