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Reporting checked October 15, 2026
Georgia investigators are examining Goliath after a fatal rider ejection at Six Flags Over Georgia. The ride remains closed. The state says its March 16 inspection reported no violations. A cause has not been announced in the official updates reviewed for this article.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem went to Six Flags Over Georgia for a family birthday celebration, a relative told ABC News. The 42-year-old Atlanta school employee died after being ejected from Goliath on October 12, 2026.
According to ABC News, the relative said Kariem was celebrating his niece’s birthday and sitting beside her. Wesley International Academy identified him as its technology teacher, robotics coach and information technology manager, with more than 12 years at the school.
Those details matter. The investigation concerns a person, a family and a school community facing a loss they did not expect. It also concerns the people injured when, according to police, he struck other patrons.
The central question
How did a rider leave a seat designed to keep him inside it?
Answering that requires the equipment, the records and a reliable account of what happened before the train left the station.
What is confirmed about the Goliath death?
The Cobb County Police Department’s October 13 release identifies Kariem and describes the initial response at approximately 3:58 p.m. Officers found him beneath the ride. Police said preliminary interviews with witnesses and employees indicated that he had been ejected and struck other patrons. The Major Crimes Unit is investigating.
WSB Radio reported on October 15 that police identified the four injured passengers as juveniles and described their injuries as not life-threatening.
Six Flags identifies Goliath as a Bolliger & Mabillard coaster introduced in 2006, reaching 200 feet and 70 miles per hour. The height of the ride does not establish the height from which Kariem fell.
The official releases reviewed do not establish why he came out of the ride. A restraint defect, an operating error, a maintenance problem or rider conduct should not be presented as a finding before evidence supports it.
The March inspection is part of the record
In its October 15 update, Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire said Goliath’s March 16, 2026 inspection reported no violations, deficiencies, citations or red tags. Investigators and engineers are reviewing the ride, its operation, equipment and documentation.
The earlier inspection deserves to be reported. It does not, by itself, explain how a particular seat and restraint performed on October 12. A useful investigation must connect the condition of the equipment with what happened during this ride cycle.
Georgia’s amusement ride rules address work between state inspections. Rule 120-3-27-.10 requires inspection and testing before normal operation each day a ride is used, by a qualified person. It also requires up-to-date maintenance records covering inspections, violations and corrective action, and major mechanical breakdowns and repairs. Rule 120-3-27-.09 addresses operator training and knowledge of normal and emergency controls.
Those requirements give an investigation specific records and practices to examine. Whether they were followed here remains a question for the evidence.
Four parts of the evidence that matter
The following are investigative questions, not findings about Goliath. Some records may exist; others may not. Establishing what was recorded is itself part of the work.
01 / The seat and restraintIdentify the exact equipment
Which train, car and seat was involved? What was the restraint’s condition? What do the manufacturer’s instructions require for that equipment, including inspection, fit and operation? An examination should document the components and their condition before testing or disassembly changes them.
02 / The departure from the stationReconstruct the final checks
What checks were required before dispatch, and what checks actually occurred? Station video, employee accounts and any available control-system records may help answer different parts of that question. A signal that a train was ready to move would need to be understood alongside the physical equipment and the applicable operating procedures.
03 / The operating historyRead the records together
Daily inspection sheets, maintenance entries, repair records, manufacturer notices, training materials and prior complaints should be compared. The point is to determine whether there were relevant conditions or warnings, who knew about them and what action followed. A gap in a record requires explanation; it does not automatically establish the cause of an injury.
04 / The independent timelinePreserve original accounts
Original photographs, videos, witness accounts and emergency response records can help establish sequence and location. A witness may accurately describe what they saw without knowing why it happened. The account should be tested against other evidence, with a clear distinction between an observation and an inference.
What Six Flags says, and what happens next
In a statement from Park President Richard Pretlow, Six Flags expresses condolences and describes its inspection, maintenance and training procedures. The park says it will open as scheduled on Friday, October 16, with other scheduled attractions available subject to normal operating conditions. Its Goliath page separately confirms that the coaster is temporarily closed.
The state says Goliath remains secured and that it will determine when and under what conditions the ride may resume operation. Cobb County Police is conducting the law enforcement investigation, while the state examines amusement ride safety and regulatory compliance.
An official investigation and a family’s evaluation of a civil claim involve related questions. A civil claim requires proof of responsibility and causation, as well as the harm suffered. The evidence must establish who controlled the relevant equipment or work, what each party was required to do, and whether an act or omission contributed to the death or injuries. The event alone does not answer all of those questions.
Questions families and witnesses may have
Has a restraint failure been confirmed?
No such finding appears in the official updates reviewed for this article. Police describe a preliminary conclusion that Kariem was ejected. The mechanism and cause require further investigation.
What should a witness do with photographs or video?
Keep the original files, including their dates and other file information. Save a separate copy before editing or sharing a clip. Write down where you were and what you personally saw. Cobb County Police asks anyone with information to contact its Major Crimes Unit at (770) 499-3945, referencing case 26066173.
Does a family need the final report before speaking with a lawyer?
A family can seek an evaluation while an investigation is underway. Bring the information already available. A lawyer can assess which records and physical evidence need attention, explain what remains unknown and identify the claims and deadlines that apply to the particular circumstances.
Does Texas law determine a claim arising at a Georgia park?
A Texas firm’s involvement does not make Texas law control the case. The location, parties and particular claims require a careful review of the applicable law and where a case may be brought. A family should receive an explanation based on its circumstances.
A serious case begins with an explanation
At VB Attorneys, our wrongful death and serious personal injury work begins with understanding what happened and what can be proved. Partners Brian Beckcom and Vuk Vujasinovic are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Our article on reconstructing a truck crash after phone data was deleted explains a related principle: an initial account should be checked against the underlying records. The equipment differs. The need to establish a reliable sequence of events remains.
The Kariem family needs answers supported by evidence. That means preserving what can explain the death, testing competing explanations and stating conclusions only when the record supports them.
Tell us what happened
If your family is facing a death or catastrophic injury, the first conversation is free. Tell us what you know and what you still need answered. We will give you a straight answer about whether we can help.
Sources and reporting notes
- Cobb County Police, October 13, 2026: identity, preliminary account, response and investigation contact.
- Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, October 15, 2026: state investigation, prior inspection and ride status.
- Georgia amusement ride safety rules: Rules 120-3-27-.09 and -.10.
- ABC News, October 13, 2026: family account and school identification.
- WSB Radio, October 15, 2026: police information on the other injured passengers.
- Six Flags park update and Goliath ride page, checked October 15, 2026: company position and ride identification.