Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six theme parks following a fatal incident on a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia, near Atlanta, which also left multiple people injured.
Officials have not yet disclosed how the person died, the extent of injuries suffered by others, or their current condition after the tragedy at the park, located roughly 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. The Cobb County Police Department's major crimes unit has launched an investigation.
Precautionary Suspensions
Attractions at the parks with features similar to the coaster in Austell, Georgia, have been suspended "out of an abundance of caution," according to a Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson. The spokesperson confirmed that personnel and local officials responded swiftly and that the park is providing full cooperation with the inquiry.
"We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today," the spokesperson said, adding that the company is providing assistance to affected guests and staff members.
Ride Details and Official Response
Neither officials nor Six Flags have identified which particular roller coaster was involved. Local broadcasters, however, aired images depicting riders being removed from the Goliath coaster. Goliath, which opened in 2006, reaches a top speed of 70mph and towers 200 feet high, according to the park's website. Over three-and-a-half minutes, passengers "navigate through razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills," the website states.
Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, verified that the victim's family has been notified. "I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one," Ms Cupid said. "We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories." She emphasised that the attraction is a vital component of the county's tourism sector, attracting guests from across the South East.
History and Recent Incidents
This death marks at least the seventh fatality at the Georgia venue, including a 2006 case where a visitor experienced what was thought to be a heart attack while riding the Goliath coaster, as documented by the Doan Law Firm, which monitors theme park accidents and offers legal support for those affected.
The incident comes shortly after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California revealed, less than two weeks ago, plans to decommission its famous X2 roller coaster following legal proceedings alleging serious brain trauma associated with the attraction. The facility settled a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by family members of a 22-year-old man who died after experiencing the coaster in 2022. The year before, a 32-year-old man died from blunt impact injuries following a ride on a high-speed roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida. His death was ruled accidental by authorities.
