A man has died after reportedly falling from the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in the US, with his son seated beside him during the incident. The tragedy unfolded on Monday, prompting an evacuation of the park and leaving several people injured and covered in blood.
The Cobb County Police Department confirmed that several people were injured in the ordeal. The man is believed to have plunged from the cart while his son sat next to him, according to reports.
Witness describes fall
One witness told 11Alive: "He fell and hit the car three different times." The victim also struck a girl two rows in front, "smashing" down just as the ride's camera took a photo, the witness added: "He was in our pictures."
The park had been closed the previous day due to bad weather. A park spokesperson said: "Due to weather conditions, Six Flags Over Georgia will be closed Saturday, October 10. The safety of our guests and team members is always a top priority. We’re planning to reopen Sunday, October 11, and will continue to keep a close eye on conditions."
Park response and evacuation
A spokesperson for the theme park confirmed the event, telling Entertainment Weekly: "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. 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."
Officials have yet to confirm how the man died, and the cause of the incident remains unknown. Others on the rollercoaster were stuck at an incline as evacuation attempts began around 5pm local time. They were evacuated in groups of four, while others remained stuck in the middle.
Ride details and recent history
The Goliath ride, which opened in 2006, stands at 200ft tall and reaches speeds of up to 70mph. The incident follows the shutdown of a controversial ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, after more than 100 safety complaints. The Mirror reported last month that the notorious X2 rollercoaster is being demolished after nearly 20 years.
