Police are currently investigating a tragic incident where a man fell to his death from a roller-coaster at a Six Flags amusement park near Atlanta. The dreadful event was witnessed by other park visitors as the man was ejected from the ride. The exact cause of the man’s death on Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Ga., approximately 24 kilometers northwest of Atlanta, has not been officially disclosed. Additionally, there is no information available regarding the status of several other individuals who sustained injuries.
Detectives from the Cobb County Police Department major crimes unit are actively conducting an investigation into the matter. As a precautionary measure, similar attractions at the park in Austell have been temporarily closed. A spokesperson from Six Flags Entertainment Corporation mentioned that this action was taken out of an abundance of caution. The park’s staff and local authorities promptly responded to the incident, and the park is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the spokesperson stated that the company is extending support to affected guests and staff members. The list of nine rides affected by the closure includes popular attractions such as the Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland, situated north of Toronto. The park has not provided a specific timeline for when these rides will be operational again.
Canada’s Wonderland is currently open to the public for twelve more Halloween-themed evenings and weekends before its seasonal closure. In a related development, Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park has decided to temporarily halt operations of its Goliath roller-coaster until further instructions are received from the ride’s manufacturer. Notably, La Ronde was previously a Six Flags property until its acquisition by EPR Properties earlier this year.
Although the roller-coaster involved in the tragic incident at the Georgia location has not been officially identified by authorities or Six Flags, local television broadcasts showed footage of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath coaster. An eyewitness, Logan Conner, recounted his experience of witnessing the man being ejected from his seat while on the ride with his fiancée. He described the unsettling moment when the man appeared to levitate in the air sideways.
The roller-coaster, which has been in operation since 2006, boasts top speeds of approximately 113 km/h and reaches heights of 61 meters, as per information provided on the park’s website. Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased individual and acknowledged the distressing nature of the incident witnessed by patrons and staff. She emphasized the park’s significance in the local tourism industry and its role in creating cherished memories for families over the years.
This tragic fatality marks at least the seventh death at the Georgia park, including a previous incident in 2006 where a man likely suffered a heart attack while riding the Goliath coaster. The recent incident occurred less than two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California announced the retirement of its renowned X2 roller-coaster due to legal actions alleging severe brain injuries caused by the ride. Previous lawsuits also included a settlement for the wrongful death of a 22-year-old man following his ride on the coaster in 2022.
In a separate incident last year, a 32-year-old man lost his life after riding a high-speed roller-coaster at the Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida. The man’s death was attributed to blunt impact injuries and ruled as accidental.
As investigations continue into the tragic roller-coaster incident, authorities and park officials are working to determine the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate event and ensure the safety of all park visitors.