Six Flags to reopen Goliath rollercoaster – but now with seatbelts after recent rider death
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem fell from ride earlier this month, spurring amusement park to temporarily shut it down Six Flags will install seatbelts on its Goliath rollercoaster in Georgia , after a rider plummeted to his death earlier this month. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old father and educator, was thrown from his seat on the Goliath, a coaster that plunges riders down 165ft, before a…
The CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, John Reilly, announced that the company will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster in Georgia, following the death of a rider. The safety upgrade will also be implemented on other similar coasters owned by Six Flags. The incident occurred on October 12 when 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta was ejected from his seat during the ride.
Goliath has been temporarily closed while state and local officials investigate the circumstances surrounding Kariem's death. Six Flags temporarily shuttered eight additional roller coasters across five U.S. and Canadian parks, all of which utilize the same manufacturer and restraint system. The theme park operator has enlisted independent engineers and inspectors to review safety procedures across all rides at its parks.
Witnesses reported seeing Kariem rise up out of his seat and fall headfirst back into the cart before being ejected. Some riders who were on Goliath before him that day expressed concerns about the ride's restraints. All nine Six Flags coasters closed were manufactured by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, featuring a clamshell restraint system designed to give riders the sensation of being on a flying carpet or scooter while ensuring safety.
Following the incident, other theme parks, including SeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde in Montreal, temporarily closed one roller coaster each with similar restraints. SeaWorld re-opened its Mako coaster after being closed for a week. The Associated Press has inquired with SeaWorld and La Ronde regarding potential seat belt or safety upgrades for their coasters.
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- Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider’s death toronto.citynews.ca
- Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death pbs.org
- Six Flags announces new safety measures for Goliath coaster following rider death abcnews.com
- Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death cnbc.com
