Six Flags has temporarily shut down nine rollercoasters across North America following a fatal incident on the Goliath rollercoaster at its Georgia park. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died in the incident on Monday, which also left others injured.
In a statement, Six Flags said: 'The safety of our guests and associates remains one of our highest priorities.'
Coasters closed across multiple parks
The closed rides include Nitro at Great Adventure, Raging Bull at Great America, Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland, Goliath at Magic Mountain, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds, and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island.
Bolliger & Mabillard, the rollercoaster design company behind all but one of the coasters, said they are investigating the incident. 'We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family and those affected,' the company said.
Victim's background and community response
Kariem's wife reportedly watched from the ground as her husband fell from the 'super' rollercoaster, which can reach speeds of up to 70mph. Eyewitnesses described the chilling moment they locked eyes with him.
Kariem was a stepdad and technology teacher at Wesley International Academy. He had recently walked away alive from a car crash and was a two-time lymphoma survivor, most recently in 2018. He was also ill in hospital with Covid-19, his family revealed to Atlanta broadcaster WSB-TV.
Three weeks before his death, Kariem and his 10-year-old stepdaughter were involved in a crash that damaged the car beyond repair, but the pair were unhurt, according to 11 Alive.
Family tribute and appeal
His cousin, Geo Ashe, said Kariem was a regular visitor to Six Flags since childhood, going twice during summers with their grandmother. Geo said his cousin didn't have biological children but loved being a parent.
He told Fox 5: 'He loved doing that; he loved kids. And he doesn't have any biological kids, but his stepdaughter is his daughter. She's been with him since she was two, three years old.'
He continued: 'He was the sunshine of our family. Our whole family is devastated by this because it just happened out of the blue. It happened how it happened, and you would never expect anything like that.'
His family released a statement describing the 42-year-old as 'exceptionally intelligent, thoughtful and kind.' They urged people to refrain from posting or circulating sensitive footage online following reports that his final moments were captured on the ride's souvenir cameras. Eyewitnesses said he hit the ride three times during his fall, and he was reportedly found unresponsive on the ground near a Halloween attraction.
