A 42-year-old man died Sunday after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Police say Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other patrons, and then fell beneath the attraction. The Cobb County Police Department’s major crimes unit is investigating the death.
Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John King said his office inspected every ride at the park before the season began and that inspectors are currently on site conducting interviews and a thorough review. During an Atlanta Press Club debate, King’s Democratic challenger, Keisha Sean Waites, said the park is set to reopen Friday and called for all rides to be inspected thoroughly before then. Early voting in Georgia’s Nov. 3 midterms began Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 30, making ride safety an early campaign issue in that race.
For those of us on the Suncoast, this hits close to home. Busch Gardens and the Orlando parks anchor our summer plans, and many local families have Georgia theme parks on their road trip list. Ride safety rules vary by state, but the questions don’t: who inspects, how often, and what happens when something goes wrong. We’ll keep following this one as investigators release more.
Do you feel confident in how amusement park rides are inspected in Florida? Let us know in the comments.
