Six Flags Adds Seatbelts To Nine Coasters After Fatal Ride Accident

Six Flags is installing seatbelts on nine rollercoasters following a fatal plunge earlier this month in Georgia. Hassan Kariem, 42, died after being thrown from his seat on the Goliath ride at the Austell location on October 12. Four other people suffered injuries during that terrifying incident.

His safety bar unlatched while he was unconscious, causing his body to fall out of the car right next to his niece, Navi. She had been celebrating her thirteenth birthday with him. John Reilly, the CEO, confirmed in a statement that nine coasters across various parks will receive these upgrades.

Goliath is one of those rides. The others share similar restraint systems. 'What happened has deeply affected all of us at Six Flags,' Reilly wrote. He noted they are reinforcing safety precautions and taking extra measures. This includes adding belts to Goliath and other coasters with comparable restraints.

The company is also working with independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review current safety procedures. 'We are committed to carefully evaluating their findings and taking appropriate action to further strengthen our standards and culture of safety,' Reilly added in his message.

The Goliath remains closed while a safety review is pending. The other eight rides have been temporarily shut down out of an abundance of caution as well. Joshua Nelson, Navi's father, told WSB that he believes Kariem died in a freak accident yet parts of him wonder if the tragedy could have been prevented.

Nelson found comfort knowing his brother-in-law had spoken with Navi just before the ride started. The teacher was excited to share Goliath because it was her favorite. He told his niece they were going to have fun and asked her to hold his sunglasses. 'That's just kind of what I've been holding on to, hoping that that's the last thing he remembers,' Nelson said.

'I do hope that he didn't feel any pain. And the last thing that he can recall was that moment of happiness.' Witnesses described a gruesome scene where Kariem flew out of his seat and hit the ride's metal frame multiple times before hitting the ground. Blood covered several riders in the aftermath.

Others claimed the restraints made a weird clicking noise, which led staff to check them multiple times before departure. Logan Conner, who was on the same carriage as Kariem, said passengers made direct eye contact with him as the teacher fell head-first out of the roller coaster. He described how Kariem levitated briefly before dropping.

Images of the educator falling over other passengers and flying into the ride structure have since gone viral on social media. His family has pleaded with people to stop sharing those photos. An investigation into Kariem's death is now underway.

Fox 5 reports that Cobb County Major Crimes detectives alongside state officials are now looking closely at the coaster's lap bar restraints, its locking mechanisms, and the computerized safety sensors. The gravity of this situation demands a full look at every piece of equipment involved.

A Six Flags spokesperson reached out to the Daily Mail with these words: 'We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today.' Their message continued with heartfelt condolences for the family, friends, and loved ones of the guest who was hurt. The team expressed their sorrow in plain terms while standing by for whatever findings emerge from this painful event.

The spokesperson added that the park crew and local authorities jumped into action right away. They are working side-by-side with investigators as they finish up their probe. This cooperation shows a commitment to getting answers, even if the full picture remains incomplete for now.