The death of a man who fell from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia has prompted a state safety investigation and raised questions about whether the amusement park or another company could be held legally responsible.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, died October 12, 2026, after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at the amusement park in Austell, Georgia. According to Cobb County Police, Kariem struck other passengers on the ride before falling beneath the attraction.
Four children were also injured in the incident, according to police. Their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is investigating the incident. Although Goliath passed its most recent state inspection in March, investigators are examining the ride, its operation, and maintenance and inspection records.
The findings could play an important role in determining whether negligence, defective equipment, or another safety failure contributed to his death.
A Passed Safety Inspection Doesn't Rule Out Negligence
According to ABC News, Georgia officials reported no violations, deficiencies, or citations during Goliath's March 16, 2026, inspection. Records the news organization obtained indicate the roller coaster passed its annual state inspections in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Annual inspections are only one part of an amusement park's safety obligations. Under Georgia's amusement ride safety regulations, rides must also be inspected and tested each day they are scheduled to operate, before being put into normal service. Owners must maintain records of inspections, major mechanical repairs, and equipment breakdowns.
Goliath's daily inspection records, maintenance history, and employee safety procedures could help investigators determine whether the ride was operating in compliance with Georgia's safety requirements on the day of the accident.
A civil lawsuit would examine whether the park or another responsible party failed to meet its legal obligations and whether that failure contributed to the fatal accident. Even with a clean inspection record, Six Flags or another company could still be held liable if negligence or defective equipment contributed to the death.
Who Could Be Liable for a Fatal Roller Coaster Accident?
Georgia law requires amusement park operators to take reasonable precautions to protect visitors from foreseeable dangers. That responsibility includes properly maintaining rides, following safety procedures, and making sure employees are trained to operate attractions safely.
Six Flags or the park operator: The park could face liability if employees failed to properly check a rider's restraint, ignored known safety problems, or failed to follow required operating procedures. These failures could support a wrongful death claim if they contributed to a fatal accident.
The roller coaster manufacturer: If a defect in Goliath's design, restraint system, or other equipment contributed to the accident, the manufacturer could potentially be held responsible under Georgia product liability law.
Outside maintenance or inspection contractors: Companies hired to inspect, repair, or maintain the roller coaster could also be responsible if their work contributed to a dangerous condition that caused the accident.
Georgia law allows courts to divide responsibility among multiple parties when the evidence supports it. Determining what caused the fall will be central to whether the park operator, manufacturer, or another company could face legal action.
Could the Six Flags Death Lead to a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
If negligence or defective equipment contributed to the fatal roller coaster accident at Six Flags Over Georgia, surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
Georgia law generally gives a surviving spouse the first right to file, with children sharing in any recovery as provided by law. If there is no surviving spouse, the deceased person's children may bring the claim, followed by the parents. In certain circumstances, an estate representative may file instead.
Georgia wrongful death law allows recovery for the full value of the deceased person's life. This includes both economic losses, such as the income and services the person would have provided, and the intangible value of life from the deceased person's perspective.
A separate estate claim may also seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral expenses, and any conscious pain and suffering before death.
Georgia generally provides two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, although certain circumstances can affect that deadline.
What Evidence Could Establish Responsibility?
One central question in the Goliath investigation is how a passenger was ejected from a roller coaster designed to keep riders secured throughout the ride.
Goliath uses lap-bar restraints rather than over-the-shoulder harnesses. Investigators will need to determine whether the restraint system operated properly and whether the passenger was securely restrained when the ride began.
The Associated Press has also reported accounts from previous Goliath riders describing problems with the roller coaster's restraints. One parent said her son had to move to another seat after a restraint failed to lock properly. Investigators have not established whether those reported problems are connected to the fatal accident.
The investigation may focus on several specific issues:
- Restraint positioning and locking: Was the lap bar properly secured before the ride began?
- Possible mechanical failures: Did the restraint mechanism or locking system malfunction during the ride?
- Employee safety procedures: Did ride operators complete required restraint checks and follow the manufacturer's instructions?
- Previous safety concerns: Do maintenance records, equipment reports, or rider complaints reveal earlier problems with the restraint system?
- Video and witness evidence: Can surveillance footage, witness accounts, and physical evidence help establish how the passenger was ejected from the roller coaster?
Distinguishing equipment failure from operator error could significantly affect a potential lawsuit. A defect in the restraint's design or manufacture could support a product liability claim, while an improperly performed safety check could point toward negligence by the park operator.
Goliath Remains Closed as Safety Investigation Continues
Goliath, which opened in 2006, stands about 200 feet tall and reaches up to 70 mph, according to Six Flags.
Following the fatal accident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters at other North American parks as a precaution. Goliath's manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, is also investigating the incident.
Georgia officials have said Goliath will remain closed until the state completes its investigation and determines whether the ride can reopen.
As of October 16, investigators have not publicly established what caused the fatal fall.
