VALLEJO, Calif. (KRON) -- A fatal roller coaster accident at Six Flags Over Georgia is raising questions about amusement park safety after a 42-year-old man died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster.
The incident happened on Monday, Oct. 12. Police said the man struck other parkgoers before falling beneath the ride. The Goliath reaches heights of 200 feet and speeds of up to 70 mph. The coaster uses lap-bar restraints without secondary seat belts.
In the wake of the accident, Six Flags temporarily closed similar roller coasters at parks across the United States and Canada, including a Goliath coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. The closures allowed the company to review rides with similar designs and restraint systems.
At Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, some visitors said the fatal incident was concerning but would not necessarily keep them from visiting the park.
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Attractions are seen at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Mableton. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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Jennifer, a Sacramento resident who frequently visits the park with her daughter, said she was devastated by the news and believes additional safety precautions should be considered.
“It's devastating what's happened, and I definitely think that there should have been other safety precautions, but Six Flags is still Six Flags; I've been coming here my whole life when it was Marine World,” Jennifer said.
The Associated Press reported that some riders who had been on the Georgia coaster earlier that day said the restraints did not feel secure.
Six Flags sent KRON4 a statement expressing sympathy for those affected by the incident and confirming that reviews of similar attractions remain underway.
The company said certain attractions with similar design characteristics remain temporarily closed as reviews continue. It added that guests can still enjoy other rides and attractions at its parks.
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: A sign is posted in front of the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park on February 24, 2021 in Vallejo, California. Despite a fourth quarter loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Six Flags posted better than expected revenue of $108.6 million for the quarter compared to analyst expectations of $87 million. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
In a separate statement about safety protocols, Six Flags said guest and employee safety remains its highest priority and that it maintains ride inspection, maintenance and safety procedures that meet or exceed industry standards.
The company declined to comment on specifics related to the incident or currently closed rides.
Georgia authorities are investigating the death, and the ride's manufacturer is conducting a separate investigation.
The coaster passed its most recent state inspection in March, with no safety violations reported. Six Flags Over Georgia reopened Friday, Oct. 16, but the Goliath coaster remained closed as the investigation continued.
The cause of the fatal accident has not been determined.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
