Six Flags announces new safety measures for Goliath coaster following rider death
Six Flags administrators announced Saturday that they will institute new safety measures, including seatbelts, for the Goliath coaster at the company's Georgia park, nearly two weeks after a rider was killed when he fell off the ride.
Administrators said that the hyper coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia will remain closed as they continue to inspect it and investigate Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem's death, but they are committed to making changes to the ride.
Kariem, 42, an IT manager, teacher and robotics coach at an Atlanta school, was "ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction," the Cobb County Police Department said in the wake of the Oct. 12 incident.
He was at the Six Flags park with several family members to celebrate his niece's birthday and was sitting beside his niece when he was ejected from the roller coaster, a relative told ABC News.
In addition to installing the seat belts on Goliath, which Six Flags said had lap-bar restraints, the park said it has "engaged independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to comprehensively review current safety procedures across our entire portfolio of rides and attractions, across all of our parks."
"We are committed to carefully evaluating their findings and taking appropriate action to further strengthen our standards and culture of safety," Six Flags said in a statement.
The investigation by the park and police into the incident, where other people had said they were injured, is ongoing.
Six Flags Over Georgia is located in Austell, west of Atlanta. The Goliath roller coaster reaches an elevation of 200 feet and speeds up to 70 mph, according to the amusement park's website. The ride first opened in 2006.
After the incident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters including Nitro in Great Adventure in New Jersey, as a precaution.
One of the coasters, Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, has since reopened, according to the park.
On Saturday, Six Flags said eight of those coasters remained closed and will have the seat belts or other restraints installed.
