Three major roller-coasters at Canadian amusement parks have been temporarily closed following a fatal accident at Six Flags Over Georgia that left one man dead and several others injured.
The incident occurred Monday, October 12, at the amusement park in Mableton, approximately 24 kilometres northwest of Atlanta. Police identified the victim as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was reportedly thrown from his seat while riding the Goliath roller-coaster. He struck other passengers before falling to the ground, according to investigators.
Authorities have not yet determined how Kariem became dislodged from his seat. Witnesses described terrifying scenes as the man was thrown from the moving ride. Several people were injured during the incident, although officials have not released details about their conditions.
Following the tragedy, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced the precautionary closure of nine similar roller-coasters across six North American amusement parks while safety assessments are conducted.
In Canada, the closures include Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, as well as the Goliath roller-coaster at La Ronde amusement park in Montreal.
A spokesperson for Canada’s Wonderland confirmed that both rides would remain temporarily unavailable, with no confirmed reopening dates. The closures come as the park continues its Halloween-themed programming before shutting down for the winter season.
Meanwhile, La Ronde officials said the park’s Goliath roller-coaster would remain closed until further information is received from the ride’s manufacturer. The Montreal amusement park was previously operated by Six Flags before its acquisition by EPR Properties was finalized earlier this year.
The fatal incident involved a roller-coaster reaching approximately 61 metres in height. The ride uses lap-bar restraints designed to secure passengers across their legs and waist but does not feature individual seat belts.
Some witnesses who had ridden the attraction earlier that day expressed concerns about the restraints. One visitor, Summer Bates, said members of her family had attempted to tighten their lap bars because they did not feel sufficiently secure.
Another witness, Logan Conner, who was riding with his fiancée, described seeing the victim rise out of his seat while the roller-coaster was moving.
Six Flags expressed condolences following the tragedy and confirmed that park employees and emergency authorities responded immediately. The company said it is cooperating with investigators and providing assistance to affected visitors and employees.
The temporary closures across Canada and the United States are precautionary measures as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident and assess the safety of similar attractions.
