Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, a Wesley International Academy staff member, was ejected from a coaster Monday, Cobb police said. The park reopens Friday.

An Atlanta man who worked at Wesley International Academy died Monday after he was ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, the Cobb County Police Department said. He was Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42.

Updated Nov. 4: Goliath stays out of service until the state finishes its investigation, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire said in an Oct. 15 update. Its last inspection, on March 16, found no violations. No findings or cause had been published by Nov. 4.

The department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating. The state office that inspects amusement rides in Georgia is investigating too. The park is in south Cobb County, about 9 miles west of downtown Atlanta.

What police said

The Cobb County Police Department’s release gives this account:

  • At about 3:58 p.m. Monday, officers working at the park responded to an incident involving a male guest on a roller coaster.
  • Officers found Kariem beneath the ride. He was unresponsive and not breathing.
  • Officers secured the scene and called in the Major Crimes Unit.
  • Witness and employee interviews indicate he was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction. Police called that information preliminary.
  • His next of kin has been notified.

“Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the department said.

Four juveniles were hurt and taken by ambulance to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, Cobb police said Wednesday, as reported by ABC News and CNN. The department said it would release no more about them because they are minors.

Police have not given a cause. The release does not name the ride. Six Flags has since said the Goliath coaster remains closed.

His school

Kariem worked at Wesley International Academy, a K-8 public charter school at 211 Memorial Drive SE. Atlanta Public Schools called him a “cherished member” of the school in a statement carried by ABC News and CNN.

Wesley said he had been with the school for more than 12 years. He was its IT manager, a technology teacher and the robotics coach. In its statement, the school called him “a beloved colleague, friend, and integral part of the Wesley family.”

What Six Flags and the state said

Six Flags issued a statement Monday, carried word for word by Atlanta News First and NBC News:

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones.”

The company said it was cooperating fully with investigators. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks,” it said. A company spokesperson said nine similar rides at other Six Flags parks in North America were closed.

The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire inspects amusement rides in the state. “Our investigative team is conducting an in-depth and comprehensive review to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the office said Tuesday, as carried by ABC News and CNN.

In an Oct. 15 update, Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King’s office said:

  • Goliath’s most recent state inspection was March 16, 2026. No violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags were reported.
  • Investigators and engineers are examining the ride, how it was operated and its records, including inspection, permitting and incident reports.
  • Under state rules, a ride involved in a fatal or serious-injury accident stays out of service until the office finishes its investigation. The office will decide when, and under what conditions, Goliath may run again.
  • Cobb County police lead the law enforcement investigation. The state’s review covers ride safety and compliance with state rules.

The office said it will share its findings when the investigation is complete.

Lisa Cupid, chairwoman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, called it “a terrible tragedy” in a statement Monday. “My heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” she said. She said the county is working with the park and other partners as the investigation goes on.

The park reopens Friday

Six Flags Over Georgia will reopen as scheduled Friday, a park spokesperson told ABC News and CNN. “Goliath remains temporarily closed,” the spokesperson said. “We do not have an anticipated reopening date at this time.”

What it means for you

  • If you saw what happened, call the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945. The case number is 26066173.
  • If you have tickets for this weekend, the park opens Friday, but Goliath will not run. Check the park’s own app or website for other ride closures before you go.
  • If you are a Wesley family, watch for messages from the school and Atlanta Public Schools.
  • The investigation is open. Neither the police nor the state has said what caused the fall. Goliath cannot reopen until the state’s investigation is done. We will update this page when either agency releases findings.

For other police and fire releases, see our Police and Fire log. To ask for a correction, use our contact page.