One dead and several injured in Six Flags rollercoaster incident
A rollercoaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia leaves one person dead and several injured, prompting a police investigation.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A fatal rollercoaster incident occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia in the United States.
- One person died and multiple other riders sustained injuries during the event.
- Local police in Cobb County are investigating the accident alongside park officials.
- Six Flags temporarily closed similar rides across its parks out of an abundance of caution.
A tragic incident at an amusement park in the state of Georgia, located about 15 miles or 24 kilometers from Atlanta, has left one person dead and several others injured. According to CBS News and the Cobb County Police Department, authorities have launched an investigation into the fatality at Six Flags Over Georgia.
While local police did not specify which ride was involved in the accident, aerial footage captured by news helicopters showed the Goliath rollercoaster stopped midway along its track, with park workers assisting riders to get off. Officials have not yet released details regarding the cause of death or how the other passengers were injured, and the identity of the deceased individual has not been publicly disclosed.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Witnesses speaking to local media outlet 11 Alive reported seeing a man eject from the ride, strike the rollercoaster structure as well as fellow riders, and subsequently fall onto the roof of a nearby haunted house attraction. The witness noted that the moment was captured on automatic souvenir photos taken while the ride was in motion. A husband and wife also corroborated to 11 Alive that the man had been ejected and struck the ride afterward, adding that park staff had checked their safety harnesses prior to departure.
A spokesperson for Six Flags stated that park staff and local authorities responded immediately to the scene and are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, Mableton Mayor Michael Owens mentioned that the city's public safety director is coordinating closely with local law enforcement and park security regarding the situation.
The Goliath ride, which opened in back 2006, features an elevation of 200 feet (60 meters), a 170-foot drop, a 540-degree spiral, and reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (112 kilometers per hour). On its internal thrill scale, Six Flags ranks Goliath at level four out of five. This incident in Georgia occurs just weeks after a Six Flags park in southern California announced the retirement of the popular X2 rollercoaster after more than 100 visitors alleged brain injuries, a decision the company made even though the ride had passed multiple safety tests.
"Our team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are co-operating on an investigation into the incident."
Six Flags Spokesperson
Six Flags operates as the largest amusement park operator across North America, running 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks, and nine resorts spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Following the fatal accident in Georgia, the company announced that it has temporarily closed similar attractions across its other parks as a precautionary measure.
Source: BBC World
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